Gambling Addiction

How it shows up

There’s a real difference between the occasional bet and a need to gamble that shows up every day. Warning signs of a gambling addiction include:

• Difficulty stopping once you start
• Spending more money than you have
• Becoming defensive or secretive about money
• Losing interest in socializing, or becoming more isolated
• Lying about or hiding your gambling habits
• Borrowing money, selling items, or skipping bills to keep gambling
• Needing to risk more money to get the same excitement

Gambling addiction often has roots in something else — stress, low self-confidence, trauma, or depression — that the gambling is temporarily easing.

How hypnotherapy helps

Hypnotherapy works by inducing a state of deep relaxation, making it easier to access the subconscious patterns driving the urge to gamble. From there, the work focuses on understanding what’s underneath the behavior and helping you build different responses to the same emotional triggers — so the urge loses its pull over time.

This approach is available both in person and remotely, and it can work alongside other supports like Gamblers Anonymous meetings if you’re already using them.

What a session looks like

Every client starts with a free consultation to talk through your situation. Sessions after that are $150, available at Pattie’s Scottsdale office or remotely by Zoom.

Common questions

Can hypnotherapy work alongside GA meetings? Yes — many clients use hypnotherapy as an additional layer of support alongside programs like Gamblers Anonymous.

Will this fix financial problems caused by gambling? Hypnotherapy addresses the underlying urge and thought patterns, not the financial situation itself — a financial counselor may also be a helpful resource alongside this work.

How many sessions are typical? That depends on how long the pattern has been established; Pattie will discuss a realistic plan during your consultation.