Help For San Diego County Seniors Addicted To Gambling

Seniors are just as susceptible to gambling addiction as people in other age groups. This unfortunate problem can ruin a person’s life; it can wipe out bank accounts, wreak havoc among family members and friends, and even cause a person to lose everything. If you think that an elder in your life is showing the signs of a gambling addiction, you can help that individual by exploring the possibilities in terms of recovery resources. Most (if not all) people are unequipped to fight this kind of mental health issue without assistance.

If the elderly individual in your life lives in San Diego County, you might find an impressive assortment of resources available to help. Gambling addiction may be even more of an issue than ever, now that most people have access in one form or another to the Internet. Whether the senior you know is unable to stop gambling online or makes frequent trips to the nearest casino, finding help nearby is a wise strategy. If you’re unable to attend every counseling session or group meeting with your elder, you may wish to hire a caregiver from a licensed San Diego County home care agency to perform that task. These are a few of the options available for gambling addiction assistance in San Diego County.

Free Assistance for Gambling Addiction

Many senior citizens who suffer from gambling addiction are unable to afford private treatment. This may be especially true of someone who has depleted a life savings because of this insidious addiction. Before this happens to your elderly loved one, you might want to explore the free program being offered by the State of California. This program is made available via the California Office of Problem Gambling. Free treatment may also be available for those in San Diego County who are affected by the behaviors of people addicted to gambling. The services available may include traditional counseling on an outpatient basis, as well as residential treatment and even telephone counseling.

Free Compulsive Gambling Treatment With Daniel O’Rourke

Daniel O’Rourke is one of the professionals dedicated to providing compulsive gambling counseling via the program offered by the Office of Problem gambling. He prefers to be contacted by phone, so don’t hesitate to consult him if you know a senior with a gambling problem. He also understands that secondary issues often occur as a result of addictive behavior – such as depression. A person who suffers from gambling addiction may need to be treated for both the compulsive gambling and depression. Daniel O’Rourke’s office is in San Diego.

Dr. Robert Miller

Dr. Miller is a clinical psychologist located in Vista. He treats clients with a method know as Feeling-State Addiction Protocol. This treatment has been found to be quite effective when dealing with compulsions and addictions. It works to break the fixation that exists between feeling and behavior, since this fixation is typically at the root of many addictive behaviors. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is used in a modified capacity; the purpose is to break the fixation connection that causes so much damage for those who manifest addictive tendencies.

Cognitive Health Science Recovery (HSC) Programs

The programs offered by HSC include intensive outpatient services for those who require addiction recovery. Clients may benefit from both individual and group counseling sessions. An emphasis is placed on addressing the core issues that lead to compulsive and addictive behaviors. Effective and integrative techniques are implemented to help clients recover in a healthy and balanced way. The centers are located in San Marcos and San Diego, and they do offer sliding scale fees based on income.

Gamblers Anonymous

This is another great resource for anyone with a gambling issue. Gamblers Anonymous does not charge people to attend the meetings, which makes the group a viable option for those who experience the addiction but do not have much money. A great number of individuals have successfully navigated the recovery process by going to regular Gamblers Anonymous meetings. If your elderly loved one lives in or near Carlsbad, the Carlsbad/La Costa meetings may be a good choice.

Facing addiction is a brave step, so be sure to offer much encouragement to a senior in your life who is ready to combat a gambling addiction. You are doing this person a great service by helping him or her get the help needed to fight such a powerful addiction. You will find a wide range of resources to assist you and your elderly loved one in San Diego County.

Disclaimer: The resources mentioned here are provided as a courtesy to you. They are intended to provide examples to assist in your understanding and learning about the types of resources that may be available. We do not recommend or endorse these or any other third party resources, and you should carefully investigate and review any providers of good or services before doing business with them, and then make your own choices.

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