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.
Is your family member or friend thinking about counselling for their gambling?
Many people benefit from speaking to a counsellor on an ongoing basis, particularly if their gambling has caused other problems in their lives. Attending ongoing counselling can feel like a big commitment but it will provide your family member or friend with considerable support to take control of their gambling.
Ongoing counselling generally offers one-on-one support, which can be face-to-face, telephone, or via telehealth. Gambling counsellors are qualified professionals who can provide a range of counselling, information, and referral services.
Ongoing counselling is available to support anyone affected by their own or someone else’s gambling, including family members or friends like you. It can help you to support someone with their gambling recovery, but it can also provide you with self-care support during this challenging time.
Is someone thinking about counselling for their gambling?
Many people benefit from speaking to somebody on an ongoing basis, particularly if their gambling has caused other problems in their lives. This option takes the most time and commitment but it will provide the person you’re supporting with considerable support to take control of their gambling.
Ongoing counselling generally offers one-on-one support, which can be face-to-face, telephone, or via telehealth. Gambling counsellors are qualified professionals who can provide a range of counselling, information, and referral services.
Ongoing counselling is available to support anyone affected by their own or someone else’s gambling, including professionals like you. It’s also available for family members and friends who have been affected by someone else’s gambling. It can help family members or friends to support someone with their gambling recovery, but it can also provide them with self-care support during this challenging time.
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 more help?
To learn more about how support or counselling can help, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.
Do you want more help?
To learn more about gambling, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.
