Jerry Bauerkemper, BS, CDGC, Problem Gambling Services Consultant – Iowa Problem Gambling – Iowa Problem Gambling Services, Retired Executive Director, Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, Galveston, TX
“How to Supervise Gambling Counselors for Improved Outcomes”
Pre-Conference, Wednesday, 3-13-24 9:00am-4:00pm
The goal of this seminar is to help those supervising gambling counselors to look for and supervise the counselor who has a gambling patient. This includes issues relevant to recovery and some that may lead to early discharge. This will include timelines for recovery including but not limited to the stages of change. We will also cover several types of supervision and the purpose and goal of each type of supervision as it pertains to addiction and disordered gambling.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will identify some timelines for recovery including but not limited to the stages of change.
- Participants will be given some potential assignments to help the counselor in working with the patients.
- Participants will understand several types of supervision and the purpose and goal of each type of supervision as it pertains to addiction and disordered gambling.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Jerry Bauerkemper, BS, CDGC, Problem Gambling Services Consultant – Iowa Problem Gambling – Iowa Problem Gambling Services, Retired Executive Director, Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, Galveston, TX
“What Kind of Gamblers are Presenting for Treatment: Comparing 1990 to 2024, and the Research that
Drives Treatment Today”
Keynote #1, Thursday, 3-14-24 8:00am-9:15am
This presentation will help to identify, note, and promote the changes in the disordered gambling field from the 1990s to the present. This will include some of the most noteworthy changes in the gambling field in the last 30 years, as well as looking to the future and what changes are on the horizon for disordered gambling treatment.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will be able to identify some of the most noteworthy changes in the gambling field in the last 30 years.
- Participants will understand the impact of the research that has been done to help clinicians screen and diagnose disordered gambling.
- Participants will begin to look at the changing patients’ demographics and games of choice.
- Participants will begin to look at the future and what changes are on the horizon for disordered gambling treatment.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Jerry Bauerkemper, BS, CDGC, Problem Gambling Services Consultant – Iowa Problem Gambling – Iowa Problem Gambling Services, Retired Executive Director, Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, Galveston, TX
“Reducing Expenses for Addiction Clients –
Some Budgeting Tips for Those in Recovery”
Workshop #3, Thursday, 3-14-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
Workshop #4, Friday, 3-15-23 9:30am-10:45am
This workshop will help counselors begin to identify and incorporate budgeting tips for clients in recovery but who may not want to complete a budget process.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will understand the stress of finances in early recovery.
- Participants will be given some assignments they can utilize with patients to introduce budgeting and saving into the patient’s early recovery.
- Participants will be given some easy savings tips that can help even the most resistant patients to the budgetary process.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Gayle Bigsby, CSAC (Retired), Fond du Lac, WI
Pat Jirovetz, ATRL, LPC, ICGC-II,
Creative Calm Counseling, Oshkosh, WI
“The Hidden Addiction, What that Really Means to Families”
Workshop #1, Thursday, 3-14-24 9:30am-10:45am
Workshop #6, Friday, 3-15-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
As the number of gamblers increases so does the number of families affected by the addiction. Gambling addiction causes severe financial issues, psychological issues, and emotional problems for families. This affects trust and the functioning of the family. This presentation will explore the devastation this causes for families. We will hear the personal story of the wife of a gambler and look at how gambling changes family roles.
Goals/Objectives:
- Increased understanding that the effects of gambling addiction affect more than just the gambler.
- Finding the hidden addiction in a high-functioning alcoholic and increased understanding of family functioning with the progression of the gambling addiction.
- Learn what tools and resources are available to provide hope and reassurance to the families.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Scott Caldwell, MS, CSAC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI
“Effectively Addressing Teen Gambling: Screening and Brief Intervention”
Workshop #2, Thursday, 3-14-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Workshop #4, Friday, 3-15-24 9:30am-10:45am
Because of the prevalence of problem gambling among teenagers, effectively addressing teen gambling should be a routine part of adolescent behavioral health treatment services. In this session, participants will learn how to administer, score, and interpret a well-established screener for teen gambling (the SOGS-RA), then how to have an efficient yet powerful change conversation using a brief intervention protocol. The case will be made for how this approach provides an excellent developmental fit with adolescent treatment.
Goals/Objectives:
Learn how to administer, score, and interpret the SOGS-RA screening instrument.
- Be able to identify three elements of brief intervention for teen problem gambling.
- Consider how to integrate screening-brief intervention for teen gambling into routine specialist treatment services.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Heather Chapman, Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D., ICGC-II, BACC, Cleveland VA Medical Center Gambling Treatment Program, Cleveland, WI
“Rules of Engagement: Engaging Military and Veteran Clients into your Clinical Practice”
Keynote #3, Friday, 3-15-24 8:00am-9:15am
As the local experts in gambling care, providers with gambling treatment expertise are an essential resource for veteran and military-affiliated clients. For counselors, understanding military culture increases treatment efficacy, better meeting the needs of this population. Further, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to decrease barriers for care, ultimately improving outcomes.
This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of these cultural competencies, ways to connect with VA facilities, and ultimately improving treatment engagement and outcomes for our veteran and military affiliated clients.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will learn the impact of military experience on the service member’s physical and mental health.
- Participants will learn at least 3 elements of military culture, impacting counseling relationships.
- Participants will learn ways to connect with VA facilities, aiming to create a system of care for veteran and military-affiliated clients.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Heather Chapman, Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D., ICGC-II, BACC, Cleveland VA Medical Center Gambling Treatment Program, Cleveland, WI
“The Link Between Problem Gambling and Trauma: Clinical Implications”
Workshop #1, Thursday, 3-14-24 9:30am-10:45am
Workshop #4, Friday, 3-15-24 9:30am-10:45am
Problem gambling often co-occurs with other mental health issues, including trauma and post-traumatic stress. Though we didn’t initially understand this co-occurrence, recent studies have begun to uncover this relationship and why those who have experienced trauma are particularly vulnerable to developing a gambling problem. This presentation will review the nature of the problem or co-occurring trauma and gambling disorder as well as outline clinical implications for best practice care.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will learn about the incidence of trauma among those with problem gambling.
- Participants will learn several theories of the co-occurrence of trauma and gambling.
- Participants will learn several evidence based care models in the treatment of those with co-occurring gambling and trauma.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
- Interactive Exercises
Michael Goldman, MA, LPC, PCGC, CRADC, CEAP, SAP, CuraLinc Healthcare, Glenview, IL
“Assessing Suicide Risk and Treating Depression for Compulsive Gamblers”
Pre-Conference, Wednesday, 3-13-24 12:30pm-4:30pm
In this seminar, suicide and depression among compulsive gamblers will be explored. Suicide among this demographic is the highest of any group. There will be a look at the risk and protective factors for suicide. There will be an overview of the prevalence rates and treatment strategies for people in this population.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will identify risk & protective factors of suicide for people with a Gambling Disorder (GD).
- Summarize the statistics of suicide rates.
- Describe prevention and treatment strategies for dealing with high-risk clients.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Michael Goldman, MA, LPC, PCGC, CRADC, CEAP, SAP, CuraLinc Healthcare, Glenview, IL
“Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction”
Workshop #2, Thursday, 3-14-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Workshop #6, Friday, 3-15-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
MBSR was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979. He took some Eastern philosophies and practices and incorporated them into his pain clinic in Massachusetts. He found that MBSR significantly helped patients cope better with chronic physical and emotional pain. This discipline has been used widely by other clinicians in assisting people with chemical dependency and other process addictions.
This training will cover these philosophies and practices while providing practical demonstrations of how it works.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will gain an understanding of the benefits of the seven components of mindfulness.
- Participants will experience practical demonstrations of how mindfulness works.
- Participants will acquire a knowledge of how MBSR is used in people with chemical dependency and process addictions, including gambling disorders.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
- Interactive Exercises
James Harrison, MS, LPC, CSAC, ICGC-II, BACC Cornerstone Counseling Services, Brookfield, WI
“Trinity Irish Dancers”
Awards Banquet, Thursday, 9-16-21 7:30pm-8:15pm
It is often expressed to our clients that there are many “recovery activities one can be part of, that are not specifically recovery related activities”, such as going to meetings, formal counseling sessions, as well as others. Cultural diversity and ethnicity training and activities can be part of one’s new recovery program.
The proposed program will include the following:
- A presentation of various dances from Ireland.
- An explanation of how these dances and music are a part of these various cultures and how they can directly affect the lives of each member of the population.
- An explanation of how a counselor or therapist can identify with their clients and have an appreciation and better understanding of cultural pluralism in our society.
- How to help our clients use their personal and familial ethnic experiences to divert them from negative activities to more positive ones.
- To help therapists and counselors to realize that many clients have been misdiagnosed because of cultural issues.
The program will be educational as well as entertaining. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to be part of the dance group, taught some of the dances, and perform them with the dance team. This activity will allow them to immerse themselves in the culture and for a time, be part of that culture.
Again, it will allow the counselor and therapist to identify with something that they may not be familiar with and develop a better understanding of a client from that culture.
Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer session where conference members can discuss what they received from the program, how it will improve their practice, and how it can help the culturally diverse clients they may have in their practices. They will also have the opportunity to talk to and question the dance team members.
Goals/Objectives:
- Be able to realize that many clients have been misdiagnosed because of cultural issues.
- Be able to help our clients use their personal and familial ethnic experiences to divert them from negative activities to more positive ones.
- Be able to identify with their clients and have an appreciation and better understanding of cultural pluralism in our society.
Doug LaBelle, LCSW, ICGC-II, CEAP,
Kenosha, WI
“The Power of EMDR in Problem Gambling Treatment”
Workshop #2, Thursday, 3-14-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Workshop #5, Friday, 3-15-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Uncover the transformative power of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) in your clinical work with problem gambling and problem gamblers. Let’s explore the integration of EMDR into addressing trauma-related issues often identified in problem gambling clients. Join us to discover the profound potential of EMDR in fostering healing and lasting recovery for some individuals struggling with problem gambling.
Goals/Objectives:
- Identification, Comparison, and Discussion of EMDR descriptions from multiple clinical perspectives and various organizations including the American Psychological Association, the National Center for PTSD, the National Institute of Health, and the Veterans Administration.
- Explanation and discussion of EMDR as a safe and effective psychotherapy technique that can be learned and implemented to help and support the treatment process of individuals struggling with problem gambling.
- Identification and discussion of resources, tools, techniques, and specialized training for the implementation of EMDR in a comprehensive treatment process for problem gambling.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Saul Malek, Public Speaker, Dallas, TX
“Take Me Out to the Inning”
Keynote #2, Thursday, 3-14-24 1:00pm-2:30pm
Saul Malek explores the consequences of live sports betting with his keynote, “Take Me Out to the Inning.” Saul’s personal experience, research, and observations come together to create an engaging presentation that will benefit treatment providers, educators, and more.
Goals/Objectives:
- Treatment providers will gain an understanding of key differences in the behavior of live sports bettors versus traditional sports bettors, thereby promoting more effective, specialized treatment.
- Educators will come to recognize the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations (young, ADHD, impulsivity) from risks associated with live betting and will feel confident implementing certain educational strategies.
- Consumers of gambling products will feel properly informed of potential risks associated with live betting.
How this program will be presented
1) Lecture
2) PowerPoint
3) Group Discussion
Saul Malek, Public Speaker, Dallas, TX
“Spoken Into Existence: Effective and Engaging
Youth Gambling Education”
Workshop #1, Thursday, 3-14-24 9:30am-10:45am
Workshop #5, Friday, 3-15-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Harvard professor Dr. Howard Gardner once said: “Stories constitute the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal.” While Gardner addressed these words to the corporate world, they also set the foundation for inspiring young people. Through his gift of storytelling, 25 year old Saul Malek has been invited to educate students nationwide on gambling. In this presentation, Saul shares the art of telling stories that not only inform young people but engage them. Through Saul’s CATL theory, attendees will become fluent in “Communicating At Their Level” and will gain confidence in educating and inspiring the next generation.
Goals/Objectives
- Participants will come to recognize the necessity of storytelling in youth gambling education.
- Participants will gain a stronger understanding of how to engage youth audiences of different backgrounds.
- Participants will recognize the importance of addressing broad topics that youth encounter (peer pressure, fitting in, etc.) when providing gambling education.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, On The Mark Counseling, Chicago, IL
“The 10 Smartest Things Counselors and Programs Can Do to Promote Recovery”
Keynote #4, Friday, 3-15-24 1:00pm-2:30pm
In this presentation you will learn 10 smart things you can do to help facilitate lasting recovery including incorporating science, treating trauma, moving beyond “talk therapy”, learning from history, treating co-occurring conditions, utilizing a public health approach, learning from the best programs, tailoring treatment to meet the needs of a diversity of clients, applying lessons from cancer treatment applied to process, and substance use disorders treatment.
Goals/Objectives:
- Participants will be able to articulate the 10 smartest things counselors and programs can do to promote recovery.
- Participants will leave with tools which will help you improve outcomes for clients with process addictions, substance use disorders, and mental illness.
- Participants will incorporate science, research, and history into programming.
- Participants will utilize a public health approach to
- Participants will tailor treatment to meet the needs of clients served.
- Participants will incorporate lessons learned from the best programs into your program.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group Discussion
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, On The Mark Counseling, Chicago, IL
“Effective Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment”
Friday Only Workshop
Workshop #6, Friday, 3-15-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
Topics covered in this skill-building workshop include: A brief history on the two track system for addressing mental illness and addiction; the challenges of accurate diagnosis; six hidden psychiatric disorders common among clients with co-occurring disorders; the interaction between mental illness and process/substance use disorders for clients with co-occurring disorders; the parallel mental health person center recovery movement and the recovery oriented systems of care movement; the strengths and weaknesses of sequential, concurrent, and integrated co-occurring disorders treatment; 10 aspects of integrated co-occurring disorders treatment; evidence based approaches for addressing co-occurring disorders treatment; and best practices in increasing medication compliance, family involvement, and peer based mutual aid attendance.
Goals/Objectives
- Participants will be able to articulate historical reasons mental illness, process addictions, and substance use disorders were treated separately.
- Participants will be able to recognize reasons clients with co-occurring disorders should stay in continuous assessment.
- Participants will be cognizant of 6 hidden psychiatric disorders which can lead clients with co-occurring disorders to slip through the cracks.
- Participants will Weigh the strengths and weaknesses of 3 types of co-occurring disorders treatment.
- Participants will work with clients with co-occurring disorders more effectively.
- Participants will increase family involvement for clients with co-occurring disorders.
- Participants will identify strategies to help clients with co-occurring disorders avoid slipping through the cracks.
Andrew J Schreier, ICS, CSAC, LPC, BACC, ICGC-II, Community Medical Services & New Life
Resources, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WI
“Money, That’s What I (Don’t) Want to Talk About”
Workshop #3, Thursday, 3-14-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
Workshop #5, Friday, 3-15-24 11:00am-12:15pm
Money is an essential part of our daily lives. With money often being a high value of importance, it can also become a source of distress. While this is something that can happen to everyone, it is particularly important to address finances when it comes to substance use and mental health. Treatment and recovery of gambling focuses particularly on the need to address finances. This comes with difficult conversations, addressing debt-related issues, planning when it comes to managing money, and dealing with the impact gambling has on others.
One barrier to addressing finances with an individual seeking help is a professional’s own discomfort with the topic. What are the boundaries when it comes to giving financial advice? How do I address their financial issues when I struggle with money? What is my responsibility when it comes to addressing the impact of finances when dealing with gambling, substance use, and mental health? It is a necessity and opportunity for growth for professionals to address their comfort with the topic of money and assisting patients in financial recovery.
Goals/Objectives
- Discover the impact money and finances have when it comes to gambling, mental health, and substance use and how money takes on a different meaning to people with disorder diagnosis.
- Participants will conduct ways to evaluate their own comfort regarding addressing money with people they serve and identify ways to professionally grow in financial recovery.
- List different resources and tools available to help people when it comes to money and finances.
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Group discussion
James Schreier, PhD, SPHR, Beyond the Far Cliffs,
West Allis, WI
“Explore the Consequences: A Person-Centered Approach”
Thursday Workshop Only
Workshop #3, Thursday, 3-14-24 2:45pm-4:00pm
In a highly experiential format, participants will learn and practice how the Implications Wheel strategic exploration process can be used to explore issues with individuals and groups. Using a variety of situations involving youth, seniors, sports, workplace, and internet gambling, participants will:
1) Identify potential positive and negative implications and see them in a connected, consequential way,
2) Identify the consequences of a decision with a process that encourages self-discovery and allows the client to see the decision from other “points of view” and
3) Experience a process that 96% of participants report resulted in identifying implications “they would not have thought about on their own?”
This program will give you the experience and resources to implement this process — and includes detailed, reproducible materials to use the tool.
Goals/Objectives
- Be introduced to “strategic exploration” and the connections to short-term thinking and “unintended consequences.”
- Identify a variety of issues for individuals and groups where “thinking about the consequences,” positive and negative, supports individual decision-making.
- Learn how seeing a larger landscape over a longer horizon reduces uncertainty levels.
- Experience how “mapping” implications provides a picture of the future with clear connections of the implications (consequences).
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- Group discussion
- Interactive exercises
- PowerPoint presentation
Jeanne Wagner, MSW, LCSW, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Johnsburg, IL
“Ethics and Boundaries in a World of Technology”
Pre-Conference, Wednesday, 3-14-24 8:00am-12:00pm
Ethics will be presented during the preconference, Wednesday, 3-14-24, from 8:00am-12:00pm only. You must attend the entire session to get full credit. You MUST have checked the Ethics box listed on the registration form to participate in the presentation.
The management of ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality in a world of constantly emerging technology and social media is especially challenging for human service professionals. This workshop will address the technology challenges encountered during the provision of human services. Strategies will be discussed utilizing current best practices from professional literature. Participants will gain an enhanced awareness of the complicated nature of technology and social media as it interfaces with the provision of services within human service organizations. Participants will learn techniques for ethical decision making in situations where technology or social media is utilized. This program is designed to be interactive as participants share challenging ethical issues encountered in their practice. Internet-based services including counseling, education, therapy groups and other social services utilizing technology will be addressed. The establishment of professional boundaries while using social media and providing services in a virtual world will be addressed. The content will also cover the concerns related to online investigation resources.
Goals/Objectives:
- Be introduced to “strategic exploration” and the connections to short-term thinking and “unintended consequences.”
- Identify a variety of issues for individuals and groups where “thinking about the consequences,” positive and negative, supports individual decision-making.
- Learn how seeing a larger landscape over a longer horizon reduces uncertainty levels.
- Experience how “mapping” implications provides a picture of the future with clear connections of the implications (consequences).
How this program will be presented
- Lecture
- PowerPoint
- Interactive Exercises
- Group Discussion
