Course Overview
Introduction to Problem Gambling (IPG) is a five-week, facilitated, online course for addiction and mental health service providers who may be in a position to support someone with issues related to problem gambling.*
IPG provides a basic understanding of gambling and problem gambling, including definitions, gambling concepts, understanding addiction, risk factors and harms, cognitive distortions, screening, assessment and relapse prevention. The four online modules include a mix of didactic content, readings and forum discussions, and will take approximately 3–4 hours to complete each week. In the final week, learners will attend a live simulation where they will role-play with a simulated patient directly, based on a case study from the course. A simulated patient is an actor trained to play the role of a client. The live simulation will be hosted on WebEx and will require the use of a web camera and speakers. Participation in the simulation is required in order to receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
*Learners who have no clinical experience or are not in a clinical position may find that the course material is not tailored to them.
For general knowledge on problem gambling, GGTU suggests the self-directed course: Fundamentals of Gambling and Gaming and the CAMH Mental Health 101 free online tutorial on problem gambling.
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing the course, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish and differentiate between activities to determine if they are gambling;
- Identify different reasons for gambling;
- Explain fundamental concepts in gambling and describe how they apply to gambling;
- Compare and contrast different conceptualizations of problem gambling and addiction;
- Select relevant risk factors, pathways, harms, co-occurring disorders, and cognitive distortions to develop a treatment plan;
- Compare evidence-based treatment approaches for problem gambling to approaches you use in your practice; and,
- Apply unique assessment considerations and relapse prevention strategies for problem gambling.
Certification and Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation for 12.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
An application for accreditation has been submitted to the University of Toronto, Continuing Professional Development, Temerty Faculty of Medicine for CEUs.
Delivery Method
Online.
Course Requirements
- Pre-course quiz
- All module activities and quizzes
- Participation in one live simulation
- Post-course quiz and evaluation