Treatment for problem gambling and counselors’ perception of their clinical competence : a national web survey in Sweden

• Background: Despite their crucial role in bridging science and practice, not much is known about counselors offer-ing treatment for Problem Gambling (PG). This study maps current treatment, the type of change techniques that areprioritized in treatment and how counselors perceive their clinical competence in their work with PG clients. Methods: A sample of PG counselors from the healthcare and social services (N = 188, mean age: 49 years, 67%women) completed an online survey. A principal component analysis was conducted to map prioritized typesof change techniques, and a multiple regression analysis was carried out to analyze predictors of counselors’ roleadequacy in their clinical work. Results: There was a large variation in the type of treatments offered for PG (mean 3.6). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) and Motivational Interviewing were the most common treatments offered and motivation was rated as themost important type of change technique prioritized in the treatment of PG. A principal component analysis identi-fied four components reflecting different types of change techniques prioritized by the counselors: (1) standard CBT,e.g., gambling cognitions, craving management, and finding alternative activities, (2) assessment of PG, (3) fam-ily orientation, i.e., involvement of concerned significant others in treatment, and (4) focus on exposure strategies. Counseling more clients monthly was associated with higher levels of willingness, adequacy and legitimacy in theirclinical work with clients with PG. Additionally, offering CBT was a predictor for higher role adequacy and providingcounseling on the origins of and consequences of PG. Conclusion: There was a large heterogeneity among the treatments offered and what change techniques that wereprioritized among the PG counselors. Clinical experience is of importance for developing competence in treatingclients with PG. This finding suggests there could be benefits to establishing specialized, more visible treatment unitswhere PG counselors could gain adequate clinical experience, thus increasing clinical competence for treating PG.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi -- Tillämpad psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology -- Applied Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Beroendelära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Substance Abuse (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Problem gambling

Treatment

Counselors

Role security

Clinical competence

Public Health Sciences

folkhälsovetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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