Gamblers Anonymous vs Birches Health: Comparing Care Options
Published:
Oct 17, 2024
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10:33 p.m.
ET
Updated:
Oct 18, 2024
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02:28 p.m.
ET
Gambling addiction treatment has come a long way in recent years. Options used to be more limited. With the rise of virtual care and increased insurance coverage for gambling-related challenges, many more options exist to help gamblers struggling. Historically, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) - modeled after the 12-step program Alcoholics Anonymous - was one of the few treatment options available to individuals struggling with compulsive gambling.
Today's treatment options include one-on-one virtual counseling, in-person therapy, group meetings and peer support. There are also inpatient and outpatient programs for individuals who require structured care. These options vary depending on the severity of the addiction, along with personal preferences and goals.
Technology has helped greatly advance gambling addiction treatment. Virtual therapy options exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals prefer virtual counseling, which offers convenient, discreet, and immediate access to licensed clinicians. Virtual treatment makes it possible for individuals to seek the help they need without scheduling conflicts or travel time. This can ensure that individuals receive comprehensive and flexible support that works for their individual needs.
What is Gamblers Anonymous?
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) was founded in 1957 to help individuals recover from compulsive gambling. This peer-support group helps members follow a structured recovery process. Meetings offer a safe and supportive space where participants can share their experiences and offer mutual support.
GA maintains anonymity and the idea that long-term recovery is possible through active participation and working the program's twelve steps. GA works best for individuals who resonate with the spiritual and philosophy-based approach.
What is Birches Health?
Birches Health is a modern healthcare company that offers virtual therapy to individuals across the U.S. struggling with behavioral addictions. Birches' personalized evidence-based treatment programs include a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness and holistic approaches. They have a nationwide team of specially trained, certified gambling addiction counselors offering virtual one-on-one therapy that makes it easy for individuals to receive help from home. Birches Health also offers comprehensive care and ongoing support, which empowers individuals to manage their addictions and improve their emotional well-being.
There are some different options for getting started with Birches Health:
Book an Appointment with a Therapist: Schedule a session with a licensed clinician.
Speak with a Care Specialist: Get personalized guidance for recommended first steps on the path to recovery.
Refer Someone Else: Help a friend, partner or loved one get the care they need.
Free Self-Assessment: Evaluate your gambling habits and determine the potential need for professional help.
Or you can feel free to call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to get in contact with the Birches team right away.
Comparing Gamblers Anonymous and Birches Health
Individuals struggling with gambling now have access to various treatment options. Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and Birches Health may point toward two different paths to recovery, but it's worth noting that it doesn't always need to be a choice of exclusively one or the other. They often work together, hand in hand. Some people prefer a mix of individual therapy, supplemented by group support.
GA is focused on group-based peer support, while Birches Health offers different types of virtual care with a main focus on individual counseling. Comparing these two programs can highlight their advantages and challenges. This can help empower individuals to make a choice that best aligns with their lifestyle, needs and preferences.
Advantages of Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) provides benefits for those struggling with gambling addiction. One of the biggest benefits is hearing stories from others with similar experiences. The group also offers mutual support and encouragement, where members can celebrate their progress. There is no mandatory cost to join GA, which makes it accessible to anyone who needs help in their recovery. Financial contributions from members are often expected but voluntary, as the GA site mentions, "We do have expenses… These expenses are met through voluntary financial support by the members. Experience has shown that acceptance of these financial responsibilities is a vital part of our individual and group growth process."
This peer support group aims to create a non-judgemental environment that offers accountability and hope. It's a structured recovery program, modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. This type of framework helps members cultivate self-awareness and learn healthier coping mechanisms. GA also offers ongoing support by making its meetings, books, pamphlets and other resources readily available. Members can build meaningful relationships with other members who understand their challenges.
Challenges with Gamblers Anonymous
Travel and Scheduling
One downside of GA is that some meetings require travel. It might not be accessible for everyone, including those who live in rural or remote areas. Also, meetings are held at a specific time, leaving little flexibility for some individuals with busy schedules.
Religious Components
Another concern for some may be the spiritual and religious components embedded in the GA program's 12 steps. These may not align with everyone's beliefs, and non-religious people have at times felt that the program is not the right fit for them since it is based on acceptance of certain spiritual values. For example, these are 2 of the 12 steps:
Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
While many GA members love the religious component of the program, others have been uncomfortable with such a focus on God and therefore have sought alternatives for gambling addiction treatment.
Group Dynamics
The group experience is dependent on its members. Some groups offer an encouraging and positive environment, while others may deal with interpersonal conflicts or disagreements that negatively impact the overall vibe of a meeting.
Similarly, some have found difficulties connecting with others in GA groups due to the makeup of members. Christina Cook, who founded The Broke Girl Society to help with this exact issue, wrote, "I wasn't coming across a lot of women who had struggled with this. When I was going to GA meetings, I was in a room full of men. I could connect on behaviors of my gambling addiction with the men in the room, but I had so many other issues going on. I knew I needed women's support; I knew there were other women who had gone through this, because I remember sitting there at the machine, looking to either side, and I was surrounded by women."
And as some have pointed out, in the FAQs section of the Gamblers Anonymous site, one answer still uses the pronoun "he" when referring to members. ("The Gamblers Anonymous recovery program is based on acceptance of certain spiritual values but the member is free to interpret these principles as he chooses.") Elsewhere, both "he" and "she" are used, but this pronoun usage may be reflective of the gender dynamics that a woman can expect in many GA meetings.
And historically, the members have skewed older. A recent New York Times article about a man who spiraled into gambling addiction said of GA meetings: "Before 2020, a person in their 40s attending a meeting would be the youngest in the room." While this may have started to change in recent years as more young people have struggled with addiction after the legalization of online sports betting and gaming, an attendee in their 20's would traditionally stick out.
Advantages of Birches Health
Birches Health offers plenty of advantages thanks to its virtual treatment model. First, it offers individuals flexibility to squeeze therapy sessions into their busy lives. They'll save commute time and transportation costs, making it more accessible and convenient. The ability to receive treatment from home allows individuals to feel more comfortable during sessions. It also can be more discreet, as quick meetings on a laptop in a bedroom or office can be less noticeable to others than leaving for a couple hours to travel to a meeting.
Another advantage is that Birches Health offers one-on-one counseling. Individuals receive personalized and comprehensive treatment that's tailored to meet their challenges. Licensed clinicians are specially trained to address the complexities of gambling addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Birches Health offers individuals the opportunity to develop healthier coping strategies.
Birches Health also now offers free virtual group sessions to create supportive environments for people dealing with similar struggles to share their experiences, without the need to travel to a meeting.
Challenges with Birches Health
Birches Health strives to offer accessible virtual care at low or no cost to individuals. The program aims to keep costs to a minimum, but some might pay a small co-pay (usually $25 or less) to receive treatment. A portion of individuals facing financial difficulties from their gambling addiction might find this a challenge. In some states, there is government funding to assist with gambling addiction treatment costs for financially sensitive individuals without insurance, but that is not available in every state.
Another possibility is that virtual treatment may not be everyone's preference. Some individuals may prefer traditional in-person counseling due to the personal connection it offers. Some may find it difficult to build rapport with a clinician through a screen and prefer physical social settings. Virtual treatment also requires an internet connection, which might not be accessible to everyone.
COMPARING GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS AND BIRCHES HEALTH:
How to decide between GA and Birches Health
Seeking treatment for gambling addiction involves a variety of factors, including the severity of the addiction and personal preferences. Birches Health offers flexible treatment options, which makes them ideal for those seeking a convenient form of effective treatment. But if someone prefers an in-person group setting, GA may be a better fit (or an additional piece of their personal recovery program).
Other factors might include the urgency of care and the level of care needed. Treatment also depends on the individual's comfort level with the variety of therapies offered. The individual should consider all options and do research into them before making a decision. But again, no decision is irreversible, and choosing between GA and Birches doesn't need to be a one-or-the-other decision. Some like both and see the benefits of them in combination with one another.
So whether you want virtual therapy, traditional in-person counseling, group meetings or inpatient care, just know that there is specialized support now available.
