Therapy for Gambling
When gambling stops feeling like a choice,
there is a way forward.
Gambling Addiction Therapy in Kerrville, TX
Maybe you keep thinking about the next bet, trying to win back a loss, or hiding how much time and money gambling has taken. The shame can make it harder to tell anyone, especially when others assume you should be able to “just stop.” You can talk about it here without being judged.
At Embracing Change Therapy, I offer gambling counseling in Kerrville, TX, and virtually. We can look honestly at what is happening, reduce immediate harm, and build a plan for a life that is bigger than the next wager
START WHERE YOU ARE
Do you feel
like this?
- You keep returning to sports betting, casinos, online gambling, or another form of wagering after deciding to stop.
- You chase losses because stopping feels like accepting them.
- You hide transactions, minimize how much you bet, or dread someone finding out.
- You feel restless, anxious, or irritable when you try to step away.
- Gambling has affected your finances, relationships, sleep, or ability to focus.
- You keep telling yourself one win will put everything right.
You do not need to wait for a financial crisis before asking for help.
The cycle can be powerful—and understandable
Gambling can bring excitement, escape, hope, or a brief break from stress. After a loss, the urge to recover what is gone can make another bet feel urgent. Secrecy and shame can then keep the cycle going.
In therapy, we will examine the pattern without treating you as the pattern. We can address both the practical risks and the feelings that make gambling hard to leave behind.
YOUR THERAPY WORK
How gambling therapy can help
Our work may focus on:
01
Mapping triggers
Mapping triggers, urges, beliefs about winning, and moments of highest risk.
02
Pause and ride out
Practicing ways to pause and ride out an urge before placing a bet.
03
Building barriers
Building barriers around access to gambling and money, with your involvement and consent.
04
Making a plan
Making a plan for honesty, accountability, and repair in relationships.
05
Overlap
Addressing anxiety, depression, substance use, or other concerns that overlap.
06
Rebuilding purpose
Rebuilding purpose, connection, and activities outside gambling.
I draw from motivational interviewing, CBT, ACT, and DBT skills. We will create concrete steps, review what happens between sessions, and adjust the plan as we learn.
MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE
A practical starting point
- Understand the pattern
We look at when gambling happens, what you are hoping it will change, and what follows afterward.
- Reduce immediate risk
Depending on your situation, we can discuss self-exclusion, blocking tools, financial safeguards, and people who can support your plan. - Build a different response.
We practice responding to urges, losses, and difficult emotions without placing another bet. - Repair and move forward
We address secrecy, trust, finances, and the values you want to live by. Change takes action, and you do not have to do it perfectly to begin.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
You don't have to figure this out alone.
I am Season Yerasimides, an LPC-Associate and fully licensed Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) with a master’s degree in counseling and a specialty in addiction.
I am working toward a gambling addiction certification and bring an addiction-focused, practical approach to gambling concerns.
My style is direct, supportive, and judgment-free. I will help you look at the consequences honestly without defining you by them. Together, we will work on the next decisions you can make and the life you want those decisions to support.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions about gambling counseling
Don’t see your question here? Reach out — I’m happy to help.
Is gambling addiction a real concern if no substance is involved?
Yes. Gambling can become difficult to control and affect finances, relationships, and well-being. You can seek help even if no one else knows yet.
Do I have to be completely ready to stop?
No. We can start by exploring what gambling gives you, what it costs you, and what change you
are willing to try.
Can therapy help with chasing losses?
We can examine the thoughts and urges that follow a loss and build practical barriers and alternative responses. Therapy cannot recover money already lost, but it can help you protect what comes next.
Will you help me tell my partner or family?
We can plan how to speak honestly and consider timing, safety, and accountability. You decide whom to tell and when.
What if I gambled again after trying to quit?
Come back to the plan. We can look at what led up to it, address immediate risks, and change the parts that were not working.
Do you offer virtual sessions, and what is the cost?
I offer in-person sessions in Kerrville and virtual appointments. Sessions are $150, and I do not take insurance. A free 15-minute consultation can help us discuss fit.
The next step is a conversation
If you are looking for gambling addiction therapy or problem gambling counseling in Austin, TX, you can begin without having every answer.
We will start with what is happening now.