Working with the pre-contemplative client

What can you do?

A pre-contemplative client does not yet recognise or acknowledge the need to change their behaviour. To help your client during the pre-contemplative stage, you need to promote supportive interventions:

• Build a rapport with your client
• Explore the issues presented but do not label them 'a gambling problem'
• Emphasise the client’s ability to make decisions, their responsibility for those decisions and their consequences
• Make it easy for the client to raise the issue again
  
  • "keep the door open"
  • "keep it low key"
• Explore the surrounding issues
• Be willing to follow up
• Use motivational interviewing techniques

What can Gambler’s Help do?

If you refer your client to Gambler’s Help before they recognise their problems relate to gambling, it is likely that you will be met with some resistance. Recommending specialist problem gambling help during this stage may even discourage your client from continuing to work with you.

If your client is in the pre-contemplation stage, Gambler’s Help can provide YOU with advice and information, through:

• Secondary consultation
• Provider education

• Email