Why Choose Williamsville Wellness ?

So how can you help yourself or someone you know who is hurt by the impact of the compulsive gambling?  Here is the four-step approach:

Step 1 - Recognize the need for treatment
Step 2 - Find out what treatment is available
Step 3 – Go to www.nongambler.com for more information
Step 4 - Choose a program

 

Here are just a few Advantages:

ADVANTAGE #1:  Williamsville Wellness is a Compulsive Gambling treatment program. That's all we do!
ADVANTAGE #2: Williamsville Wellness offers totally individualized treatment programs: Our Clinical Director is a psychiatrist, ask to speak with him.
ADVANTAGE #3:  Almost all clinical sessions are One-on-One
ADVANTAGE #4:  Williamsville Wellness offers a strong family therapy component
ADVANTAGE #5:  We offer Relapse Prevention and aftercare training
ADVANTAGE #6:   Most sessions are psychotherapy, not educational group
ADVANTAGE #7:  Williamsville Wellness uses an eclectic treatment team
ADVANTAGE #8:  We offer art therapy
ADVANTAGE #9:  We offer addictions counseling and education
ADVANTAGE #10:  We explore alternative treatment modalities, such as Hypnotherapy
ADVANTAGE #11:  We offer deep tissue clinical massage
ADVANTAGE #12:  Our Physical Fitness program includes a personal trainer
ADVANTAGE #13:  Our Chef prepares nutritious and delicious Home cooking
ADVANTAGE #14:  Williamsville Wellness has an Open Gamblers Anonymous meeting
ADVANTAGE #15:  Williamsville Wellness promotes spiritual growth
ADVANTAGE #16:  We bring in outstanding speakers
ADVANTAGE #17:  Limited Enrollment
ADVANTAGE #18:  The treatment facilities
ADVANTAGE #19:  We are flexible; the client’s needs come first
ADVANTAGE #20:  We offer spontaneous activities and new challenges
ADVANTAGE #21:  We model a healthy homelike atmosphere

ADVANTAGE #1:  Williamsville Wellness is a Compulsive Gambling treatment program
Why is this important?  Compulsive gambling is its own psychiatric disorder, defined by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) since 1980.  The relief from emotional pain was sought through gambling and new problems were caused by the addiction. 
The dynamics of compulsive gambling and their impact are very different from alcoholism or drug addiction.  Of course, the gambler may also abuse drugs or alcohol after big losses. They may have thought about or tried to commit suicide, or may even be headed for prison.  These related problems are also part of the individualized treatment of compulsive gambling.  Our treatment is innovative, unique and comprehensive.  It is not just a carbon copy of alcohol or drug treatment programs.
Although compulsive gambling may be the primary concern, at Williamsville Wellness we treat the entire person.

 

ADVANTAGE #2 Williamsville Wellness offers totally individualized treatment programs

Why is that important? Our Director Sherman Master Earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his residency in Psychiatry also at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Master was recently the medical director of Tucker Pavilion at Chippenham Medical Center. He is a clinical professor of Psychiatry at MCV/VCU and has been listed in Best Doctors of America, Southeast region issue.
The leader of a team must be the most educated and experienced.

ADVANTAGE #3:  Almost all clinical sessions are One-on-One

Why is this important?   We have learned from the mistakes of others that group therapy is good but not good enough.  We want to get to the core of the individual, to the root of the problems and the traumas that caused the emotional turmoil and injuries.  These deep secrets aren’t brought out in group sessions because sometimes the issues may be too painful or embarrassing to share with virtual strangers. Sometimes it may be impossible to open up when there is distraction from others and hence problems are simply left unspoken and untreated. Disclosure takes trust.  In one-on-one therapy, secrets are revealed without fear of judgment or rejection.  Opening up is the first step towards feeling good and building up self-confidence.  Treatment at Williamsville Wellness is one for one, not one for all.

ADVANTAGE #4:  Williamsville Wellness offers a strong family therapy component
Why is this important?  How can compulsive gamblers hope to recover when they see the damage that they have caused still lingers on for those they love?  How can family members feel good when they are filled with anger and anxiety, or depressed to the point of self-destruction?  How have loved ones enabled the gambling? Who handles the money and how will the bills be paid? Will our children become gambling addicts?  The family and the gambler need relief from chaos and learn how to work together through sharing and caring, not isolation and anger.   Our view is that family therapy is not only important, it is critical for recovery.

ADVANTAGE #5:  We offer Relapse Prevention training
Why is this important?  It’s the old adage – Knowledge is power.  In relapse prevention training the therapist helps the gambler identify triggers which prevent abstinence and lead to relapses.  When these triggers are identified, solutions to prevent and overcome triggers are planned.  For instance, if the road home from work can branch off to the track or casino, two options are to take a different route or to join a carpool.  Often family or friends are called upon to assist the gambler in these vulnerable moments.  For that reason alone it is important for family members, such as the spouse or parents, to actively participate in the WW treatment program.  Relapse prevention also includes aftercare during the gambler’s transition home, coordinating with the local therapist on treatment needs, and reassuring the gambler that Williamsville Wellness is there to help even after discharge from the residential stay.  

ADVANTAGE #6:  Most sessions are psychotherapy, not educational groups
Why is this important?  Most alcohol and drug rehabs treatment programs do a lot of 12-Step work and little psychotherapy.  Williamsville Wellness strongly encourages participating in a 12-Step program such As Gamblers Anonymous. In addition to professional therapy, compulsive gamblers often suffer from depression, anxiety and other psychological conditions that at least, in part, contribute to the development and maintenance of a gambling addiction.  They may also have personality disorders; suffer from impulse control disorders, other addictions, low self-esteem or issues in their lives which cannot be healed without the intervention by trained doctors, mental health counselors, or medication.  Remember, gambling created more problems; it never was the only problem.

ADVANTAGE #7:  Williamsville Wellness uses an eclectic treatment team
Why is this important?  Mental health counselors are trained to use different treatment modalities.  For instance, a clinical psychologist using a psychodynamic approach to therapy will explore early childhood events and how these shaped the emotional development of the person.  A clinical psychologist using cognitive therapy will focus on the words used, or not used, to discover the irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions which lead to stress and poor coping skills.  The art therapist will see things in the drawings that may be repressed or cannot be revealed verbally.   Clinical social workers have specialized training in family therapy.
          Our professional team complements clinical psychotherapy with non-verbal treatment methods, such as deep tissue massage, hypnotherapy, and physical fitness training.  

ADVANTAGE #8:  We offer art therapy
Why is this important?  Art therapy is as important as family therapy within the Williamsville Wellness treatment model.  “Art therapy? I can’t draw” is the most common reaction when clients learn about art therapy.  The answer is not how well you draw but what is drawn, what media and colors are used, on what part of the paper, how big or small, what is left out, and similar identifiers.  Art therapy gets to the unspoken words, the subconscious of the clients, beyond their well-known “cons” and manipulations giving a visual representation of the individual, the family and the psychological injuries. It is a gentle means of bringing out strong feelings and hidden bruises. 

ADVANTAGE #9:  We offer addictions counseling and education
Why is that important?  We believe in Benjamin Franklin’s words of wisdom, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Patients Clients learn about the process of addictions, from occasional use to behaviors progressing to an out-of-control stage which may last for months or years.  During that time period incredible damage is done by the addict, to the addict and to the family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and even strangers.  Research estimates that one compulsive gambler adversely affects 17 people.  We also know that many compulsive gamblers grew up in alcoholic homes or may themselves be co-addicted.  Alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs, and work are the most common co-addictions with compulsive gamblers.
 

ADVANTAGE #10:  We explore alternative treatment modalities, such as Hypnotherapy
Why is this important?  Hypnosis is a psychically induced, mentally relaxed state in which the mind is more open to positive suggestions. It helps reduce tension, improve memory and change cravings to aversions.  It has been found particularly effective for weight loss and to stop smoking.  Gamblers will learn self-hypnosis which they use during treatment and as a recovery tool after discharge.  Hypnosis has worked with others and we think it will help most, if not all compulsive gamblers.  We believe that if Plan A doesn’t work, try Plan B. 

ADVANTAGE #11:  We offer deep tissue clinical massage
Why is this important?  Gamblers talk about the muscle tension in their shoulders and upper back, the constant pain in their lower back, knots in the stomach, headaches and numbness.  Deep tissue massage gets rid of the knots and kinks, leading to a more relaxed state of mind, improved sleep and memory, and a body that works for instead of against the gambler.

ADVANTAGE #12:  Physical Fitness Program
Why is this important?  The mind and body work together, and Williamsville Wellness treats both to attain maximum benefits in the pursuit of health and quality of life.  Most compulsive gamblers are competitive and have a strong athletic background.  They were the best player on the team or hoped to become professional athletes, yet during the out-of-control gambling years physical fitness was ignored.  Long hours in front of a video machine, sitting at the blackjack table, not eating properly, not getting enough sleep and constant worrying – all of these lead to physical weakness, body function deterioration, with constant aches and pains.  The Williamsville Wellness physical fitness program is led by our personal trainer and includes Pilates training, weight training, cardiovascular training, core exercises, stationary biking, and stretching in our fully equipped gym and our basketball court.  Feel like jogging?  Our clients can jog and take long hikes on our 400-acre estate. Endorphins released by exercise have been clinically proven to alleviate the need for the adrenalin rush provided by addictions. 

ADVANTAGE #13:  Nutritious and Delicious Home cooking
Why is this important?   We believe everyone is entitled to nutritious and delicious meals. Our chef considers the clients’ favorite foods, their special nutritional needs, and observations of holiday rituals.  Three times a day we sit down to a good and plentiful meal.  Healthy food does make a difference. We have plenty of fresh fruit and juices in our snack refrigerator for everyone at any time. We also stock our snack refrigeration with plenty of fresh fruit and juices for clients to access anytime.

ADVANTAGE #14:  Williamsville Wellness has an Open Gamblers Anonymous meeting
Why is this important?  Gamblers Anonymous helps the gambler, but who helps the family and how can professionals understand and treat without learning from those who know it best?  Many times the gambler hears the stories from other gamblers and those people who are hurt by the gambling.  This may be the very first time that both the gambler and significant others begin to grasp the complexity of compulsive gambling.  There are two very important reasons for having an Open GA meeting:  There are only few GA meetings in many states, but even fewer GamAnon meetings, thus the Williamsville GA can be there for the gambler, the family, and the clinical staff.  This is especially helpful for our doctoral interns. Training these new clinical psychologists assures that future patients clients reap the benefits of the expertise provided at Williamsville Wellness.

ADVANTAGE #15:  Williamsville Wellness promotes spiritual growth
Why is this important?  Addictions focus on the self, the need to escape from reality and to seek instant gratification leading to destructive behaviors.  The competitive personality of the compulsive gambler interferes with good relationships. “Money is the root of all evil” is a saying that holds true for abusive gambling.  Spirituality does not necessarily mean religion, although prayer and faith heal the soul.  By spirituality we mean that inner peace that comes from enjoying nature, selflessness instead of selfishness, accepting kindness and being in communion with others and faith.  It is finding beauty and serenity in and around you. A weekend retreat is part of our program.

ADVANTAGE #16:  We bring in outstanding speakers
Why is this important?  Outside speakers add to the overall understanding of gambling and compulsive gambling.  You may hear Ohio State football great, Art Schlichter, share his story of falling from fame to infamy, and of his commitment now to help others. Topics may include the spread of legal gambling and its impact on the economy, the latest in research and new treatment methods, how the FBI catches bookies and loan sharks, what judges’ think about compulsive gambling or what the NCAA does to protect its athletes.  The topics are limitless. We encourage our clients to give us suggestions.

ADVANTAGE #17: Limited Enrollment
Why is this important?  It is very important.  Our program is designed to focus on the individual gambler, not on large groups.  It’s easy to get lost in a crowd which prevents resolving the individual’s personal problems and is more likely to lead to relapse.  The Williamsville Wellness program is unique to compulsive gambling and not simply a copy of other rehabs where the belief is that all addictions are alike and that the emphasis should be on education.  This can be done in groups of fifty or even a hundred clients.  We want our clients to get individualized comprehensive treatment by clinicians experienced in treating compulsive gamblers.  Limited enrollment allows us to offer more personalized services than any other outpatient or residential treatment facility, by far.  Every client sees all lf our therapists individually, in small psychotherapy and psycho-educational groups, getting the full benefit of our outstanding treatment team.  We can accommodate seven gamblers at this time, and plan to enlarge to double that number over the next two years.

ADVANTAGE #18:  The treatment facilities
Why is this important?  We want to focus on treatment and not be sidetracked by external interferences.  Williamsville Wellness offers 400 acres of seclusion, yet it is only 15 miles from Richmond, VA.  The grounds are landscaped with magnificent magnolias and oak trees.  Much of the 400 acres is in its natural setting of wildflowers, ferns and brooks.  The birds chirp and the deer come at night to feed on corn from our fields and get a taste from their salt licks. Wild turkeys strut around freely and the beavers are fun to watch as they build their dams.      

The plantation house was built over 200 years ago but has been restored with all the modern comforts and conveniences.  Five of the seven bed rooms have private baths. Several large meeting rooms, with their twelve foot ceilings and multiple windows serve as client lounges, rooms for GA or group therapy sessions, family sessions, speakers meetings, social functions, holiday festivities, and graduations.
Counselors’ offices are comfortable and cozy.  The kitchen table seats ten and the dining room seats twenty. When it’s cold outside enjoy a fire in one of our many fireplaces.  We also have a trolley car and caboose for art therapy and family sessions and the gazebo offers a setting in nature for spiritual meetings.  The gym is fully equipped, and even the tool shed offers a tractor for the adventurous, a rake for gathering leaves in the fall, and an ax for chopping wood for the fireplaces.  There are miles for walking, space to practice your golf shots, and a basketball court for leisure time.      
The clients’ treatment, group interaction, and comfort are our goals. Being in a serene, natural environment where dignity is maintained, and where one can feel peaceful and content are very important to us and to the healing process.

ADVANTAGE #19:  We are flexible; the client’s needs come first
Why is being flexible important?  Our basic program is four weeks, but some clients may find three weeks is enough while others require more time.  It depends on a myriad of factors; what is the level of damage? Was suicide attempted? Are the family supportive and what other illnesses need to be addressed?  The patient may also need to interrupt the stay because urgent business or legal matters need attention, or there may be a major family crisis requiring the gambler to go home for a period of time before returning to the Williamsville Wellness treatment program.  We are here to serve you, not to control you. 

ADVANTAGE#20:  We offer spontaneous activities and new challenges
Why is this important?  Compulsive gamblers often have limited exposure to real-life activities.  Williamsville Wellness offers many opportunities to do something that is spontaneous and enjoyable without being impulsive and harmful.  Chop wood.  Plant a tree.  Pick tomatoes.  Listen to the night sounds.  Smell the woods and find the North Star.   Bake a cake.  Do it on your own or let staff show you how it’s done.  Build self-confidence, find peace, and enjoy nature.  You can do it all at Williamsville Wellness.

ADVANTAGE #21:  We model a healthy homelike atmosphere
Why is this important?  Compulsive gambling is rooted in troubled relationships.  Usually this starts in early age, or even infancy.  There may be an alcoholic parent, parents who are too busy, who have poor parenting skills, are abusive or away from home due to work, death or divorce.  It may be a dysfunctional family in which communication is poor, problem-solving skills are not taught or homes in which nurture and guidance are minimal.  At Williamsville Wellness we try to model a healthy family environment, where health behaviors and communication are encouraged. Clients feel nurtured, safe and are taught and guided until the willingness to trust emerges. When sharing and caring become normal, the boredom and avoidance which are the hallmarks of gambling addiction have no need to exist.

 These are just a few of the advantages to Williamsville Wellness. The most important advantage comes from what you do with the tools you are given.