I tend to think of the calls I receive as having a two-fold focus. One part is what you (the caller) share with me, the other part is what I (the program manager) share with you. During such calls I receive various questions about the program and how it works. One of the most common… Read more »
Learn MoreAlthough I currently work in the mental health field a lot of my college study was focused on philosophy in art. These two subjects seem (and in many ways are) very different, but I don’t think they are as unrelated as surface appearance. For example, as I have worked with clients struggling with problem gambling,… Read more »
Learn MoreWe recently received a call from an older, Spanish-speaking woman, residing in the Bronx and requesting help for the many problems caused by her problem gambling. We can call this woman “Sophia”. After listening to Sophia’s story, we answered her questions and eventually made an appointment for her at our Jamaica location. Although our program’s… Read more »
Learn MoreIn teaching classes and giving presentations about problem gambling, I often say something like: “The purpose of the QCFE is”: (A) to increase awareness of problem gambling and (B) to offer help and hope to those affected by it In this blog I want to talk about the first of these two stated purposes—increasing or… Read more »
Learn MoreOne of the most common ways we know that the villain of a story is truly villainous is when they directly threaten, not just the hero, but also the friends, family and/or entire world of the said hero. When this dramatic twist occurs in a book or movie we, as the audience, recognize that the… Read more »
Learn MoreFirst Question: Do you like to ride roller coasters? Second question: Did you notice if reading the first question made you smile? (Please remember your answer). The first question is simple, the second one telling. I think it is safe to say that some people love to ride roller coasters and some would never-ever… Read more »
Learn MoreAmong the strange and frustrating facts of life is the fact that we humans can become addicted to the things that give us pleasure. I call this fact strange simply because it can happen. I call it frustrating because it often does. My personal sense is that society used to associate and identify the issue… Read more »
Learn MoreThe ancient Greeks had a very interesting idea that I have always been fascinated by—they called it “Telos”. The basic idea involved the belief that all things in nature have an ideal version of themselves, which they can become when conditions are agreeable. For example, when conditions such as natural environment are right a tiny… Read more »
Learn MoreMany of the people I speak with are motivated to contact me because of problematic circumstances resulting from problem gambling. These circumstances are always implicitly financial, but can also be legal, marital, familial, professional and of course emotional, in nature. These circumstances basically force the acknowledgement that they or someone they know needs help with… Read more »
Learn MoreGambling, like drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes is sometimes a controversial legal activity.But how do you know if or when such an activity is becoming something more harmful? How do we know if the activity has crossed a dangerous line of unhealthiness and how does a concerned friend of spouse address it? When this type… Read more »
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