Help for Compulsive Gamblers and Gambling Addictions

Gamblers' Alternatives is a philosophy designed to help compulsive gamblers stop gambling and learn to live a better life. It is comprised of eight principles developed by Dr. Tom Doshan, a psychologist and former compulsive gambler.

These principles were developed as a result of considerable research on the treatment of addictive behaviors as well as Dr. Doshan's personal experience as a compulsive gambler. He has been treating compulsive gamblers for over fifteen years.

These principles are believed to be critical for people to successfully overcome a gambling addiction. They are proactive, secular, holistic, and empowering - providing a road map to a healthier, more satisfying life.

While some philosophies emphasize the helplessness so many people experience in the throes of addiction, Gamblers' Alternatives emphasizes the possibility of success in conquering a gambling addiction through effort and following principles that will work.

Some important elements of the Gamblers' Alternatives philosophy are:

1) the belief that compulsive gambling is an addiction, not a disease, so addicted people must make a choice about what they are going to do about their addictions.

2) the belief that honesty is essential in every aspect of the person's life for a successful recovery.

3) the belief that a person does not need to identify a specific cause for becoming addicted to gambling in order to overcome the addiction, but that the reasons for gambling addiction will usually be revealed the longer the person stays away from gambling.

The Gamblers' Alternatives Treatment Manual is intended to provide structure to help people address and overcome a gambling addiction. Dr. Doshan sees clients in his Minneapolis office on a weekly basis and sometimes provides group therapy along with his brother, Dan Doshan, also a psychologist specializing in treating addictive behaviors.