When gambling becomes a problem, priorities become distorted and perspectives shift. The rest of life can fade into the background. Most people with a gambling problem are fully aware that there is a problem — aware of the consequences — and yet still find themselves making that choice. “Just one more go.” “I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
Entering a situation where you can gamble brings on a kind of trance. You become very focused — but only on the outcome of what you’ve risked. Everything else seems at a remove. That narrowing of attention is real, and it’s part of why gambling can be so hard to walk away from.
The good news is that you can change your behaviour and regain the control you’re looking for.
Hypnotherapy is effective for helping when gambling has become a problem. Working at the level of the subconscious — where habits and compulsions take hold — hypnosis can create a genuine sense of freedom from the behaviour, rather than just a conscious effort to resist it. The approach we take is not just on the symptoms, we give attention to the associations you have with gambling: the feelings, the people, the motivations, the reasoning, anything that is relevant to you. We’ll help you make a plan, and then support that with hypnosis work.
We’ll also address any underlying issues that may be driving the habit. For some people it’s the thrill. For others it’s the sense of worth that comes with winning, or a need for escape, or boredom, or something they can’t easily name. Most people don’t remember when gambling became a problem, let alone why. That’s normal — and it doesn’t matter. What matters is finding what’s underneath, and working with it.
Using hypnotherapy, these changes usually occur quite rapidly. Many people report a greater sense of security and self-confidence once the habit is behind them.
Australia has one of the highest rates of gambling participation in the world. Pokies, sports betting, online platforms — opportunities to gamble are everywhere and increasingly easy to access. For many people, gambling stays recreational. But for a significant number, it becomes something they feel they can’t control.
Signs that gambling may have become a problem include:
If any of those resonate, we’ll be happy to help you.
Hypnotherapy sessions with us begin with a conversation. We’ll listen to what’s been happening for you, without judgement. Understanding your particular experience — when it started, what triggers it, what role it plays in your life — is what allows the hypnotherapy work to be genuinely tailored to you.
As we talk about in other places on our website, clinical or therapeutic hypnotherapy is nothing like stage hypnosis. You remain aware and in control throughout, and the aim is to influence change at the level of the subconscious mind, which is where automatic behaviours and compulsions are formed — and where they can be changed.
Sessions are available in-person at our Everton Park clinic, or online via Zoom if you’re outside Brisbane.
Gambling can have significant ramifications for everyone around the person who gambles, not just the individual. It’s not uncommon for a family member to reach out to us first. We’re happy to talk with you about how we might be able to help your loved one, if they’re willing to seek assistance.
This varies from person to person. Gambling is often more entrenched than habits like nail-biting, and may need more sessions than something like smoking. We’ll have a clearer sense after the first session, having understood your specific situation.
Genuine intention to change makes a real difference. Hypnotherapy works with your own motivation, not against your will. If you’re ambivalent, that’s okay to explore in the first session. It’s ok to have genuine worries about getting help, or your ability to make the change.
Yes. Many people who come to us have tried to stop on their own more than once. The reason willpower alone often isn’t enough is that the habit lives at a subconscious level. Hypnotherapy addresses the behaviour at that level, which is what makes it different from just deciding to stop.
Yes. Everything discussed in sessions is treated with strict confidentiality. There are no records shared with insurers, employers, or family members without your consent.
Yes. Zoom sessions are available and work well for this type of work. Many clients outside of Brisbane — and even those within the city — prefer the convenience of working from home.
