Treating problem gamblers: a residential therapy approach

The Gordon House Association (GHA) is the UK's only specialist and dedicated residential facility for problem gamblers. This paper describes the GHA therapeutic programme which is centred round a nine-month period of residency. Progression through the programme is described by overviewing each of the phases. These are initial assessment and five distinct phases comprising 'coping with today' (Phase One), 'coping with yesterday' (Phase Two), coping with change (Phase Three), coping with tomorrow (Phase Four), and 'coping on my own' (Phase Five). These phases are themselves underpinned within the GHA core therapeutic approach which is also described.