A Gestalt Approach to the Treatment of Gambling

Gambling is a serious and growing problem. Standard treatment programs commonly address symptoms, but their recidivism rate is nearly 80 percent. My colleagues and I believe that compulsive or addictive gambling is a manifestation of a character disorder marked by the gambler's failure to get physical and emotional needs met and by a lack of behavioral options. We believe that Gestalt therapy in a familial setting can successfully treat gamblers. Gestalt therapy forces gamblers to see their character picture and their behavior's effect on others and to develop more options for operating in the world.