Unit 3-10: Gambling Partner Betrayal Trauma & Treatment

Purpose:
Many gambler partner clients are dealing with betrayal trauma. Consider this common example: a couple shares their last argument in session – she reacted in anger and then withdrew after reading a notice from the IRS saying a payment was due which she thought had already been paid. He admits to becoming defensive, feeling she over-reacted and being upset that she did not trust him.

In this workshop, we will explore similarities between gambling and sexual addiction; betrayal trauma and its effects; offer a trauma lens for treating partner clients; and discuss how current treatment terms and approaches may not apply and may actually be harmful to partner clients.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, the participant will be able to:

• To understand three ways disordered gambling may be more like sex addiction than alcohol and drug addiction in terms of the partners’ experience.
• To recognize three types of financial impacts on gambling partner clients.
• Define partner betrayal trauma.
• To understand Acute Stress and Post-Traumaic Stress Disorder as they relate to betrayal trauma.
• Learn how to incorporate the trauma perspective into partner and couple treatment.

Unit Outline:

• Similarities and a difference between disordered gambling and sex addiction
• Partner betrayal trauma
• Characteristics and examples of problem gambling partners
• Treatment approaches for working with clients experiencing partner betrayal trauma