Take the Next Step in Recovery

Regain full control of your life.

What may once have been a fun and occasional experience may have lead you or someone you know to a gambling problem or addiction. Research shows gambling changes the brain and rewires neural circuits in similar ways that drug addiction does. Gambling addiction is labeled as an impulse-control disorder that involves not being able to manage your gambling, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones.

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What is "problem gambling?"

Any gambling behavior that disrupts your life

It doesn’t mean you have to be out of control with it. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you may have a gambling problem. Many also suffer from loss of sleep, relationship discord, stress, depression, anxiety, substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD or bipolar disorder. The signs of a gambling addiction or problem is similar to other signs of addictions. These include but are not limited to:

  • Feeling the need to be secretive about gambling
  • Losing control of gambling habits or anxiety about quitting
  • Gambling when you cannot afford to
  • Your friends and family express concern about your gambling

Our counselors use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which research shows as the most effective for gambling problems, as well as mindfulness and solution focused brief therapy.

Break the cycle and take the next steps. Treatment includes :

1

Prepare to change

Increase readiness and motivation for lasting change
2

Understand your urges

Understand and manage gambling thought processes, urges and triggers
3

Learn coping skills

Improve problem solving skills and relaxation techniques to decrease gambling behavior
4

Practice helpful communication

Improve assertiveness communication, refusal skills and relapse prevention
5

Practice prevention

Improve coping skills for stress management, anger, and anxiety.
6

Examine your motivations

Understand your perceptions of self and how money links to self-esteem

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70 E Lake St #222
Chicago, IL 60601

Serving Chicago, Streeterville, Gold Coast, West Town, West Loop, River North, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Square, Bucktown, Ravenswood and surrounding areas.

Common Questions

Do you accept insurance?

We are in network with the following insurance carriers:

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Choice Advantage
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Choice Preferred
  • United Behavioral Health, aka United Health Care
  • Optum Veterans Affairs Community Care Network

However, if you have a carrier that we don’t accept we can still work together! Using your out of network benefits, many insurance companies will provide you with 20% to 80% reimbursement for sessions. We provide you with an invoice, you send it into your insurance company and they mail you a check. If you’d like to know what your out of network benefits are call the number on the back of your card and ask, “What are my out of network benefits for mental health counseling?” Please contact us to provide you with additional information about this.

Is there parking available at your office?

All el lines are within 1-2 blocks, and, there are two parking garages nearby at 60 E. Lake St. and 20 E. Randolph.

I tried therapy and didn't like it. How's this different?

Therapy varies depending on the personalities of the counselor and client, as well as the particular concerns brought forward. Sometimes the chemistry between the counselor and client or the counselor’s style or approach just isn’t a good fit. The relationship between the client and the therapist is of utmost importance. Therefore, we work to create a safe environment where open and honest communication is encouraged so that concerns or questions about treatment or the relationship can be addressed in session. This often benefits the therapeutic process and deepens the therapeutic relationship.

What can I expect from the first few sessions?

During the first and second session, we will gather information about what has brought you into therapy including your concerns, what you’d like to work on and information about your current and past emotional health and life history. This information helps us gain a deeper understanding about your situation, you as a person and how to best help you. As noted earlier, since it is important that clients feel comfortable with their counseling, we encourage clients to also use the first session as an opportunity to assess if this is a good fit for you as well.

What can I expect during a typical therapy session?

During therapy you will begin to discuss and share your feelings, thoughts, and reactions in order for you to begin to gain insight, develop new thinking patters, coping skills and overall improved quality of life. It is natural to feel uncomfortable about opening up at first but this process because much easier after a few sessions. Since self-growth is possible through commitment and work I will encourage you to practice the things you discuss and learn outside of session.

How long will I need to be in therapy?

The number of sessions needed is different for everyone depending on a number of factors including but not limited to your goals, severity or intensity of your concerns or symptoms, how long you’ve been dealing with your concerns, current levels of stress, and the progress you make towards reaching your short or long-term goals.

Is what I say in therapy confidential?

In general, all communications between a client and counselor are confidential and can only be released with the client’s written permission. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

  • When there is a reasonable suspicion of child/dependent abuse or of an elder adult.
  • When the client communicates a threat of bodily injury to others.
  • When the client is suicidal.
  • When disclosure is required pursuant to a legal proceeding.
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