December 1998

By Becky Sechrist, Associate Director of Gambling Programs

 

Participating in Vanguard's Residency for Professionals was an extremely powerful experience for me. I was able to see firsthand how a treatment program for compulsive gambling operates as well as see how the services provided by the Minnesota Compulsive Gambling Hotline can help people find resources.

My experience began as I boarded the bus that transported clients from the housing facility to breakfast. It was on this ride that I met the clients that I would be with for the next few days. All were accepting of the outsider in their midst and I learned that a couple of the clients had called the Hotline to find out about Vanguard. Both expressed appreciation for the Hotline's services. As a referral specialist for the Hotline, this was very gratifying to hear.

At first the program seemed very rigid, but as time passed I realized that this is necessary. During the previous months or years of the client's lives there was no structure or concrete way of doing things. The rigidity of this program helps clients regain that structure. The program begins with an assessment that takes about two hours. Once in the program, each client is expected to participate in group sessions, family sessions and individual sessions. Each must do a history of their gambling from birth to present day-included in this is pitching pennies and playing marbles as a child to playing pool for drinks in college to buying lottery tickets at the gas station or spending $2,500 in a few hours at the casino. Clients also have homework to complete throughout treatment. Included in these assignments are assessing how the gambling has affected each aspect of life: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, sexual, relationships (family: parents, children) and work. These assignments are brought back to the group sessions and shared with the other participants. As a professional in residence I participated in most of these sessions and was able to give feedback about my experiences and feelings.

Through this experience, I learned not to be judgmental but instead understanding and compassionate of individual situations. I have yet to find appropriate words to completely describe my days at Vanguard. What I can say is this program is staffed by caring professionals and that the program made a profound impact on my professional and personal life.

 

Project Turnabout/Vanguard Addiction Recovery Centers in Granite Falls, MN offer a residential experience program designed to enhance and promote the learning of professionals whose work brings them in contact with compulsive gamblers. Through involvement in this program, professionals will gain first hand knowledge of the effects of compulsive gambling by interaction with clients and their families. The program consists of four days of programming Monday through Thursday including evenings. For further information or to apply for this program, please contact Project Turnabout/Vanguard at 1-800-862-1453 in Minnesota or 1-800-299-9946 Nationally.

 

 

Gambling Problems Resource Center
2720 Highway 10
Mounds View, MN 55112