The Michigan Department of Community Health Presents:
The Seventh Annual Gambling Disorder Symposium

Changing Times in the Life of a Problem Gambler

March 2, 2015
8:30 am to 4:00 pm

DoubleTree Detroit-Dearborn Hotel
5801 Southfield Expressway Detroit, MI 48228

Symposium Objectives
• List the characteristics that increase the risk of problem/pathological gambling across the Lifespan continuum.
• Identify the different stages of problem/pathological gambling as they are presented across the life span.
• List the most effective prevention and treatment modalities for problem/pathological gamblers of all ages.
• Demonstrate how and when to apply various prevention and treatment modalities that transcend age barriers to effectively treat problem/pathological gamblers.

Agenda
8:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 am Welcome

Alia Lucas, Problem Gambling Program Analyst, Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Administration, Michigan Department of Community Health
HMSA Introduction
Beth Combs, MA, LPC, CAADC, NCC, Director of Clinical Operations, Health Management Systems of America
Lori Mello, MA, LPC, MPA, Program Manager, Health Management Systems of America

9:15 am Gambling at all ages: What does it look like today?

Jody Bechtold, LCSW, NCGC-II, BACC, has been providing outreach, intervention, and education to individuals with gambling and co-occurring disorders, as well as their families. Since 2008, she has been providing prevention and early intervention workshops, harm reduction interventions, and treatment to older adults regarding gambling activities. Jody has developed best practices for working with this growing population.
The objectives of this presentation are:
• Describe the generational characteristics that influence gambling behaviors of all ages
• Demonstrate new ways of the gaming industry to attract gamblers of all ages.
• Evaluate various prevention and treatment interventions used with gamblers across the life span.

10:15 am Problem Gambling: My Story —

Bob Z., Recovering Gambler
The objectives of this presentation are:
• Understand Gambling Disorder as an addiction and the need for services.
• Learn about what helps a problem gambler in their journey to recovery.
• Enhance participants’ knowledge of the problem gambler.

10:30 am Break

10:45 am Concurrent Workshops

1. Getting Their Attention: Older Adults & Gambling —
Jody Bechtold, LCSW, NCGC-II, BACC, Wayne State University

The objectives of this workshop are:
• Identify the importance of focusing on older adults and gambling activities
• Discuss the use of best practices when developing workshops targeted to older adults.
• Demonstrate the use of harm reduction techniques when working with either adult children or older adults with respect to gambling activities.

2. Insider’s View of Gamblers Anonymous: Open Meeting —
Gamblers Anonymous and GAM-ANON Members
The objectives of this workshop are:
• Observe Gamblers Anonymous activity through attendance at an open meeting.
• Differentiate between abstinence and the 12 steps of recovery, using step 1 as a learning tool, as demonstrated during the meeting.
• Demonstrate how the 12-steps program can improve and change lives through the translation of personal stories of recovery and support. All stories heard at the open meeting are authentic and will be used as learning tools.

3. The Spiral Downward: Stages of Progression of Gambling Disorder Amongst Middle Aged Gamblers —
Mike Mooney, LMSW, NCGCII, MCBAP, CEO/Administrator, Senior Psychotherapist
The objectives of this workshop are:
• List the types of addicted persons and how these types are affected by age/stage (early onset of gambling vs. later onset)
• Illustrate the profile of the middle aged gambler and identify their progression from social to problem and pathological gambling.
• Identify various treatment options for working with the middle aged problem/pathological gambler.

4. Youth and young Adult Gambling: Risk factors, Motivations, and Treatment —
Jamey Lister, PHD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Wayne State University School of Medicine
The objectives of this workshop are:
• Provide an in-depth knowledge of psychological, psychiatric, and gambling characteristics that increase the risk of gambling disorder among youth and young adults.
• Identify treatment issues/obstacles potentially encountered when treating youth and young adults with gambling disorder.
• Detail descriptions of evidence-based treatment approaches indicated for the treatment of youth and young adults with gambling disorder.

12:15 pm Lunch

1:00 pm Repeat of Morning Concurrent Workshops

2:30 pm Break

2:45 pm Bringing It All Together: Understanding the Problem Gambler

Heather Chapman, PhD, NCGCII. – Dr. Chapman is Director of the Brecksville Gambling Treatment Program, and Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland, VA Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University. She is the first recipient of the Joanna Franklin Award and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Dr. Chapman’s current research interests include suicide and gambling, as well as personality and gambling, co-morbidity, and treatment retention.
The objectives of this presentation are:
• Discuss the aspects of client engagement as it relates to improved outcomes for all gamblers.
• Explore the world of the problem gambler through an experiential exercise.
• Recognize the implications of trauma and shame, as they relate to gambling recovery.

4:00 pm Adjournment