Gambling Treatment & Education Services

CFR offers a wide arrange of services for problem gamblers and their loved ones including: Our commitment is to match services and programming to the needs of individuals, their families, and communities. All services are confidential and provided by staff who have received extensive training in gambling treatment and education.

(1) Free evaluations: Persons concerned about their gambling behaviors are offered confidential consultations, evaluations and assessments at no charge. Trained staff is available to schedule these appointments for expediency and the convenience of the individual. This initial session will assist in determining the nature and severity of the gambling behaviors and provide information on the appropriate treatment options and/or community resources.

 (2) Crisis counseling:  Often times, gambling behaviors and the subsequent financial losses can lead to feelings of hopelessness and even thoughts of suicide.   Because gambling addiction is often hidden with no outward signs, affected persons don't seek help until their world appears to be falling apart.  For problem gamblers and their concerned family/friends we offer 24-hour crisis counseling. Help is available at 515-576-7261 or toll-free at 1-866-801-0085.

(3) Individual Counseling:  We recognize the stigma of problem gambling is often a barrier to services. There is no shame in seeking help. Community and Family Resources offers confidential counseling services at offices across its service region.  Our caring and professional staffs know that feeling helpless keeps people in the grip of this illness. Counselors, trained in gambling treatment, will work with an individual to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. Session time, length and frequency is matched to the needs of the individual.

 
4) Group Counseling: Problem gamblers can draw strength from others in these safe group settings. Groups vary in size and cover a broad range of gambling and addiction-related topics. Participants get the opportunity to share, provide feedback and accept the support of others who may have walked a similar path in life. All groups are facilitated by a trained staff counselor.

 
 (5) Family Counseling:  We understand the insidious nature of this disease and the pain that it causes families. The gambling behaviors and the subsequent financial dilemmas affect the whole family. Family members often feel angry and confused. Trained counselors are on staff to facilitate the healing process by assisting in processing emotions and fostering meaningful communication. We believe that family involvement in programming is a key to helping the problem gambler to recover and instill hope for the whole family.

 (6) Financial Counseling: Problem gamblers often find themselves in a financial "black hole" with overdue bills, mounting debt and depletion of resources. Community and Family Resources has counselors who can help them regain a financial foothold by assessing their needs, helping develop a responsible spending plan and prioritizing debt repayment. For more complex issues, such as bankruptcy, CFR will assist with referrals to other financial or legal professionals.

 
(7)Concerned Person Services: Recognizing that problem gambling affects the non-gambler as well, Community and Family Resources offers special programming to help restore emotional and financial stability to concerned persons. These confidential services focus on the needs of the non-gambler only, as they work to rebuild their lives.

 (8)Temporary Housing;    Community and Family Resources has a unique service to offer problem gamblers in Iowa. The only one of its kind in the state, this program combines safe and comfortable housing with treatment services of either low of high intensity levels, dependent upon need. Some compulsive gamblers are able to succeed in recovery attending weekly outpatient groups, but others find themselves in a situation where they cannot abstain in their home environment. For those, CFR transitional housing may be a perfect fit. If necessary, individuals may stay up to 90days as they make the transition to their communities.

(9) Distance Treatment:  Community and Family Resources now provides individual, group and family counseling through various technologies such as the internet, faxes and phone counseling.  Problem gamblers are no longer limited to traditional face to face counseling. This program is designed to reduce barriers for people who cannot travel to a treatment center, persons with disabilities that make in-person options inaccessible or uncomfortable, families with childcare difficulties, and others with tight work schedules.

(10) Education and Prevention: . Presentations are free of charge and tailored to the particular audience, whether it be a school, business, service club or community agency.  Typically education and prevention efforts focus on raising awareness of the warning signs of problem gambling and offering tips for low risk gambling. Other topics may include, but are not limited to, youth and college student gambling, the concept of randomness, gambling history and statistics, signs and symptoms, how to help a loved one, and responding to financial problems.