This 2-day face-to-face training will focus on common clinical issues affecting people with gambling problems and their families. The training will focus on skills development and the application of theoretical concepts covered in the Introduction to Problem Gambling: Phase One online course. Opportunities for skills practice will be included. Introduction to Problem Gambling: Phase One is a pre-requisite for this course.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• identify the key components of building a therapeutic alliance with people with problem gambling
• identify obstacles in building a therapeutic alliance with people with problem gambling
• describe actions to develop a more deliberate practice
• identify a client’s stage of change
• apply appropriate strategies to match each stage of change
• identify common co-occurring mental health and addiction issues experienced by problem gambling clients
• discuss strategies and resources that can be used to treat and support clients with problem gambling and co-occurring mental health and addiction issues
• identify strategies to support conversations with clients about money.

Faculty: Peter Chen, HSC, CPGC, BEd, has worked as an addiction therapist and education specialist with the Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use team at CAMH since 1995. His work involves the development of educational resources in the areas of problem gambling and mental health, including online courses, webinars, face-to-face workshops, and published material. He is the chair of the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification Board and has also trained in the specialty area of integrating mindfulness meditation into clinical practice.

Sarah Waldman, MA, RP, is an Education Specialist/Therapist with the Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use team at the Centre for Addiction. Sarah has over 15 years of combined experience working in the mental health and addiction field in a variety of roles including: counsellor, program developer, project coordinator and educator. Sarah is a Registered Psychotherapist and holds a Masters of Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University. Sarah is skillful in supporting community capacity-building and fostering collaborative partnerships among diverse stakeholders. Passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion; she brings these values to all of her work.

Register today at https://learn.problemgambling.ca/trainings-webinars.