Entry/Advanced Standing Agreement With Edith Cowan Univeristy (ECU) Edith Cowan University (ECU) offers upto 60 credit points (4 units) of advanced standing towards the ECU Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) E95 and the ECU Bachelor of Science (Psychology) E37 for successful completion of the ACC School of Counselling and Psychology Specialist Diploma in Counselling Psychology.

About Gambling Addiction
- By Dr John Lim

People may begin gambling for some excitement or fun. Gambling, however, can develop into a serious problem. When that happens, gambling begins to dominate a person's life and hurt them and their loved ones. Gambling addiction has robbed many of the joy of life and stifled their abilities to contribute to the wellbeing of their families and society as a whole. The term gambling addiction includes but is not limited to the condition known as pathological or compulsive gambling.

If left untreated, problem gambling begins to grow and manifests in various forms of dysfunctional behaviors. Anyone regardless of age and gender can become a pathological gambler. Chain-smoking, depressions, alcoholism and drug consumption are often closely associated with pathological gambling. Pathological gamblers tend to have suicidal tendencies and are often anti-social. They also experience frequent uncontrollable mood swings.

With the widespread easy availability of online gambling, governments' approvals of the building of more casinos and the legalizing of gambling including soccer gambling, gambling addiction is assuming alarming proportions. It is a contagion that must be addressed by government policy thinkers and social behavior professionals.

Gambling addiction behaviors cause disruptions in major areas of life including - Psychological, Social, Physical, and Vocational. Symptoms of Gambling Addiction include

• Spending more money and time on gambling than intended
• Denial and Hiding of gambling from family and friends
• Believing that money is best used and directed in gambling
• Lost of interest in other activities except for gambling.
• Low productivity and disinterest in work
• Irritability and frequent outbursts of anger
• Lying for fear of being identified as a problem gambler
• Frequent absenteeism from work
• Not going home as often
• Lying to borrow money for gambling
• Obtaining money in unethical or illegal ways to gamble
• An obsessive belief that losses will be recuperated the next round
• A strong sense of hopelessness because of impossible-to-pay mounting losses

Treatments for Gambling Addiction

Counselling, psychotherapy or medications are current treatments for gambling addiction. Cognitive behavior therapy aims at replacing negative beliefs with healthy and positive ones. Support Groups are very helpful as a treatment as they can offer advice and moral support. Anti-depressant medications are often used to control and manage mood swings in gambling addicts.

SPECIALIST DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING ADDICTION - GAMBLING

Introduction to the programme

The programme has been designed for:

• participants who have no experience in counselling but are willing to gain a basic entry qualification to professional counselling.
• professionals who wish to develop counselling skills and knowledge for application in their work areas such as in health, social services, educational, customer service, human resource and supervisory work settings.
• professionals who wish to help individuals involved in gambling addictions.

The programme provides participants with :

• a professional basic entry qualification to counselling
• opportunities for personal growth
• acquisition of crucial interpersonal skills and related knowledge
• specialization in counselling gambling addiction

The programme aims to :

• provide a basic level of knowledge about major approaches to counselling and psychotherapy.
• provide training in basic counselling skills and practice
• introduce the ethical and professional issues faced by counsellors in human service industries.
• introduce a basic level of knowledge and skills in working with different client groups and specific client issues.
• train the participants in handling specific problems in gambling addiction

The Programme features

• A double diploma programme in counselling and counselling addiction - gambling
• Integrates the 3 areas salient to counsellor training programmes: - personal growth
  - theoretical and research-based knowledge in counselling psychology
  -skills in counselling.
  
• Students are taught a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings and client groups.
• Focuses on developing counsellor awareness including: - how the student's interpersonal style affects the counselling process
  - students will be taught to reflect and learn from their training experiences.
  

Teaching Methods and Assessment

The programme will be delivered through lectures, group discussions, practical demonstrations, video presentations, practical and experiential exercises, case studies, and role-plays. Students will be assessed through written assignments, projects, oral presentations, and videotaped counselling project/examination.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the course, applicants must fulfil the following conditions:

• diploma holders in any field
• be at least 18 years of age
• mature applicants not meeting the admission requirements are invited to apply as the program recognises relevant life experiences that students bring with them.
• application will be considered on a case-by-case basis; in some circumstances, interview might be needed