Thinking about counselling for yourself?
If someone else’s gambling is affecting your life, gambling counselling can be a safe place just for you. Many partners, family members and friends find it helpful to talk with a counsellor regularly, especially when gambling has caused stress or problems in their lives. It might feel like a big step, but ongoing counselling can give you steady support and help you focus on your own wellbeing.
Counselling is usually one-on-one and can happen in person, over the phone, or through telehealth. Gambling counsellors are qualified professionals who can listen, provide advice, and connect you with other supports if you need them. Remember, counselling isn’t only for people who gamble. It’s also for anyone impacted by gambling, including family and friends like you.
Gambling counsellors are there to support you, not just the person who gambles. They can work with you one-on-one and can also provide support to couples or families. Services are available in most local areas, and you can also choose to connect with a counsellor outside your area. Many offer phone or video appointments, sometimes even outside regular office hours.
Counsellors use different approaches to help you cope with the impact of someone else’s gambling. This might include building skills to manage stress, finding ways to reduce harm, or helping you feel more confident in supporting your friend or family member if they’re ready to make changes.
To get the most out of counselling, it helps to find a counsellor who feels like the right fit for you. A good connection with your counsellor can make a big difference to how helpful the sessions are. If you’ve tried counselling before and it didn’t feel right, it may have simply been because the fit with the counsellor wasn’t right.
If you’d like to speak to a gambling counsellor, you can start a confidential online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. A trained counsellor will listen and, if you’d like, refer you to a local gambling counselling service. You can also visit your state or territory page to find a service near you.
Support is also available in other languages. Call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 and ask for an interpreter, or call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. For more details, see Gambling in Culturally Diverse Communities.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can connect with the Gambling Helpline through the National Relay Service.
Not sure this is the right type of support?
There are many ways to get help. Everyone’s different, so it’s really important for each person to find the right support for them. Different approaches may work better for different people. We’re here to help people choose the type of support that suits them best.
Take a look at the other types of support and counselling that are available:
To learn more about how support and counselling can help family members and friends, see our information on Seeking Support.
Do you want more help?
If you’d like to know more about how counselling or support could help, you can start a confidential online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. It’s free, available 24/7, and open to anyone affected by gambling harm.
Support isn’t just for people who gamble. It’s also here for family and friends like you, to help you cope and look after yourself.
If you’d also like to learn more about ways you can support your loved one to change their gambling, visit our section on Taking Action.
Do you want information about the benefits of gambling counselling?
This page is designed for people who are helping a loved one with gambling harm. If you're a professional or someone experiencing gambling harm who would like to learn more about how counselling can help, take a look at this page instead:
How ongoing gambling counselling can help
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