Important Notes
This class provides information about financial therapy approaches and tools that may support gambling-disorder recovery. It is not individualized financial, legal, tax, investment, or mental-health advice.
Named financial tools and products are provided as examples for education and discussion. CalPG does not require or endorse any specific product. Clients and clinicians should compare options and select tools based on individual needs, cost, privacy, accessibility, and safety.
Financial management tools should be individualized, consent-based, and safety-informed. Strategies such as account monitoring, automatic payments, prepaid cards, debt repayment plans, or third-party money management should be chosen based on the client’s needs, risks, goals, legal/financial context, and relationship safety. Clinicians should work within their scope of practice and refer to qualified professionals when specialized guidance is needed.
In cases involving coercive control, domestic violence, separation, legal disputes, or major financial exposure, clinicians should encourage appropriate legal, financial, tax, clinical, or safety consultation.
Class Description
This training introduces clinicians to financial therapy approaches that can be used when working with individuals experiencing gambling disorder and related financial harms. Participants will learn how Solution-Focused Financial Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Financial Therapy, and Systemic Financial Therapy can support clients in identifying strengths, restructuring harmful financial beliefs, and improving financial decision-making. The course also reviews practical tools such as debt repayment strategies, automated payment systems, and financial monitoring tools that can assist clients in managing gambling-related financial consequences. By integrating therapeutic interventions with practical financial tools, clinicians will gain strategies to help clients stabilize finances and support recovery from gambling disorder.
Learning Objectives
- Describe three financial therapy approaches used in addressing gambling-related financial problems: Solution-Focused Financial Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Financial Therapy, and Systemic Financial Therapy
- Identify four questioning techniques used in Solution-Focused Financial Therapy, including miracle questions, exception-finding questions, scaling questions, and compliment-giving
- Explain two common distorted beliefs associated with gambling behavior that may be addressed through Cognitive Behavioral Financial Therapy
- Apply two financial management tools (e.g., debt snowball method or PowerPay) that can assist clients in reducing gambling-related debt and improving financial stability
Educational Goals
- Increase clinician understanding of how financial therapy approaches can support recovery from gambling disorder
- Improve participants’ ability to recognize financial beliefs and behaviors that contribute to gambling-related harm
- Provide clinicians with practical financial management tools that can be incorporated into treatment planning
- Strengthen clinician confidence in addressing financial issues that arise during gambling disorder treatment
- Promote integrated treatment approaches that combine therapeutic techniques with financial stabilization strategies
Outline
- Introduction to Financial Therapy and Gambling Disorder (10 min.)
- Solution-Focused Financial Therapy (20 min.)
- Cognitive Behavioral Financial Therapy (20 min.)
- Systemic Financial Therapy and Relationship Dynamics (15 min.)
- Practical Financial Tools for Clients (10 min.)