For many people, gambling is a source of personal excitement and social pleasure. The problem gambler however can leave a trail of personal destructiveness and social cost. While it is recognised that problem gamblers and their social context need help, continuing research is required to identify the most effective method of therapeutic and counselling intervention. Several approaches have emphasised behaviour therapy, various expressions of cognitive therapy, addiction control and others have followed doing “what seems best” in a given situation.
Cairnmillar has undertaken a major research project with the support of The Tattersall’s Foundation, with positive outcomes for the CMT method and the clients who participated in it. The research described the effectiveness of CMT, an integrative treatment approach, bringing together several schools of therapy in a module of six sessions. It described how problem gambling clients benefit from a plan of therapy that deals with the overt problem and also recognises the hidden influences on behaviour. The research focused on resources relevant to each stage of the therapeutic intervention. The findings indicated that within a time-limited cost effective engagement, clients found value in its proactive and its positive psychological emphasis. The research continues to this day to gather further support for the effectiveness of the approach in treating the gambling syndrome.
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