Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group
Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...
I am about to see a counsellor. Just wondering, how honest I have to be?
I am prepared to be 100% honest about gambling, but I wonder if I have to reveal somewhat embarassing things, like how I see prostitutes, have a mediocre relationship with my family etc?
I can see how the latter might be relevant, but the former??
I am prepared to be 100% honest about gambling, but I wonder if I have to reveal somewhat embarassing things, like how I see prostitutes, have a mediocre relationship with my family etc?
I can see how the latter might be relevant, but the former??
I am so glad you are going to see a counselor, mine has been a god-send and there's something so freeing about being able to completely open up in a safe, confidential environment.
Having a compatible relationship is critical though, I went through 3 before I found the one that I felt comfortable with. So, if you don't connect with this counselor after a few sessions, don't hesitate to try another one.
Once you feel secure in the relationship, you will be able to open up about all the issues you are grappling with. While you may not associate seeing prostitutes with your gambling problem, (if I remember correctly, you are married?) that ties in with the same issues of trust and honesty that the gambling problem creates.
Once you have committed to therapy, the only benefits you will reap are dependent on the honesty you are willing to give. It's all tied together, how we treat others, how they treat us, how we see ourselves, how we live our lives in comparison to how we WANT to live our lives. Who we are vs. who we want to be.
You can beat these demons Toey, open your heart and your mind to the possibilities of what life can offer and what you can offer, too!
Is it more your wish for this person to think well of you, or for you to get the help you need? All my own opinion. Be well, Buddy. Love ya, ~E
I'll fourth that! One item that may or may not be relevant is that you are the customer in the relationship and the relationship is based upon privileged information. It's not like your counselor can disclose anything about you and, frankly, as everyone else has said, the object is for you to gain healing from the experience. I'd say whatever course it takes, it will be freeing so don't hold back. The issues you noted are obviously on your mind, so working through them would likely aid in your recovery with gambling (mind works in mysterious ways) and perhaps help in many other departments of your life.
Just my 2 cents,
Jay
I actually went to a GA meeting before I saw the counsellor. It was good in that it put a real human face to this problem which so far I have only ever read about (like here). You know? Sometimes there's just a huge difference between reading someone's story and hearing them tell it in the flesh.
However, I don't think it's a thing for me, just a matter of personal choice. I fear being recognised, and I also feel somewhat vulnerable exposing myself and my story to a group of strangers. Again, like I said, that's just me.
I saw the counsellor two days after that, and I preferred that better because I feel the one on one is more my thing. She didn't dive straight to my addiction, and instead asked about my background, to get an understanding of what may be causing my addiction. I thought that was good.
I was open to her about everything she asked, however, I have decided that there's one thing I cannot tell her, for fear that she has legal obligations to disclose it and it will end up hurting my family.
I look forward to the next session very much.