This study explores clients’ perceptions of women-only group counselling for problem gambling. The clients surveyed participated in a women-only treatment group through the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Commission (AADAC). The group was a pilot project for AADAC, in that it was the first gambling treatment group for women only; previously, only mixed (male and female) groups had been run. Therefore, this is the first known group of its kind to be conducted in Alberta or Western Canada. A qualitative, thematic analysis using the constant comparison method was conducted using in-depth interviews with a focus group of five women. Themes emerged from this analysis, providing insights into counselling practices for women problem gamblers. The results demonstrated that the women who participated in the group found women-only groups to be helpful. Additionally, the participants reported that, if they had to participate in group treatment for problem gambling, they would prefer women-only treatment in the future. Therefore, further research and exploration of women-only treatment are recommended in order to improve problem gambling treatment for women. / ix, 89 leaves ; 29 cm. --

Problem gambling is best understood from a biopsychosocial perspective, whereby multifaceted biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors interact in ways that may lead to individual risk. Reinforcement contingencies and operant conditioning appear to play particularly important etiological roles. Theoretically, operant conditioning approaches should therefore comprise particularly effective treatment strategies. While operant conditioning in the form of contingency management is known to be an effective treatment for alcohol and substance abuse, it has never been applied by clinical practitioners in community-based treatment for problem gambling. The present pilot study explored the utility of adding concrete reward contingencies to community outpatient treatment, from the perspectives of clinical effectiveness and client/counsellor experiences. At 3-month follow-up, clinical outcomes compared well to typical treatment outcomes, and treatment retention appeared to be superior. Participating clients perceived concrete rewards to be moderately effective in the change process, while active therapist acceptance of this technique appeared to be limited. / xi, 186 leaves ; 29 cm. --