Criteria for Legitimate Gambling Treatment Program
Selecting the appropriate gambling treatment program that will address the specific needs of a compulsive gambler is not difficult. Specific guidelines should be followed in order to ensure availing only the quality service treatment program geared to help compulsive gamblers overcome their behavioral crisis.
The usual standards being followed by a gambling treatment facility in order to merit becoming legitimate and credible in their treatment services are encompassed within certain criteria.
First is the need of a gambling treatment program to become accredited or licensed. To become accredited will mean that the treatment program should merit approval of accrediting agencies to provide the quality treatment service related to mental health treatment, substance abuse and gambling related behavioral problems. There are at least three common accrediting agencies. A gambling treatment program facility should win the approval of at least one of these accrediting agencies.
The three common licensing agencies that award accreditation to a gambling treatment program facility are the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the State Department for three major fields of major concerns: Mental and Public Health, Alcohol, chemical and substance abuse and Human or Social Services.
The second criteria to be fulfilled by a gambling treatment program facility are constructing a program framework that specifically deals with gambling problems. A comprehensive treatment plan should be presented that covers gambling treatment, the kind of assessment to be given and the adequate treatment protocol that provides care directly to the client and family. The gambling treatment program should be specific with financial, educational and legal implications also addressed within the treatment protocol.
The last criteria to be satisfied are the need for employing a regular clinical staff who is certified as a gambling counselor. A certified counselor must have completed a gambling treatment course. The agencies responsible for certifying gambling counselor are the National Credentialing Organization and an organization within a state that requires at least 30 hours of solving gambling problems training with some periods of handling a direct supervision of gambling problem treatment.
Upon satisfaction of these three criteria, a gambling treatment facility may now become listed in a treatment locator facility. This is done to make available all the gambling treatment facility options transparent for the perusal of those interested to undergo gambling treatment.
Licensing and accreditation is a very good standard set for a quality gambling treatment program. The credential of professionals handling a compulsive gambler's treatment is a serious matter which should be handled delicately with precise protocols geared toward addressing and satisfying a compulsive gambler's needs for full recovery.
