Clinical routes
GPs, NHS talking therapies, and private practitioners each have different roles. We map the landscape—we do not book appointments or promise outcomes.
gamblingtherapyuk.co.uk · UK only · 18+ · not a clinic
Understand gambling harm—and where real support lives in the UK
Short articles, careful language, and links to NHS and charitable services. We are an editorial handbook: we do not run a helpline, sell sessions, or promote betting sites.
If you need a voice now
National Gambling Helpline
Free and confidential, 24/7 — delivered by GamCare. We only signpost; we are not the helpline operator.
gamcare.org.uk →UK organisations (official)
Start here for numbers, registration, and tools. Always confirm details on each organisation’s own website.
Helpline, web chat, and structured support. We are not GamCare—link provided for convenience. National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Visit GamCare →
National education and harm-prevention charity; funds research and treatment in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Visit Be Gamble Aware →
Overview of gambling addiction and seeing your GP.
Visit NHS →
Peer support meetings across the UK.
Visit Gamblers Anonymous →
International charity—online groups and resources. This website is independent; link is signposting only.
Visit Gambling Therapy →
Free registration for self-exclusion from participating online operators licensed in Great Britain.
Read our GamStop article for context.
Visit GamStop →
Regulator for legal gambling in Great Britain—licence register and consumer information.
Visit UK Gambling Commission →Article library
Each item is general education—not personal clinical advice.
Tips · 9 min read
Ten practical tips to stop or cut down gambling
Concrete steps—from removing apps to talking to someone you trust—with clear limits on what general articles can do.
Continue reading →
Tips · 7 min read
Checklist: the first 48 hours without gambling
A flexible hour-by-hour style plan for the most intense urges—plus UK helpline numbers.
Continue reading →
Tools · 6 min read
GamStop: what it is, what it is not (United Kingdom)
Free self-exclusion from most UK-licensed online gambling operators—clear limits and myths.
Continue reading →
Resources · 6 min read
Gambling Therapy: online support—what to expect
A non-profit international service—chat, groups, and resources—without confusing it with NHS therapy.
Continue reading →
Awareness · 7 min read
Signs gambling might be becoming a problem
Behavioural and emotional patterns—why early conversation with your GP or GamCare matters.
Continue reading →
Resources · 6 min read
Where to get help in the UK (GamCare, NHS, GA)
A simple map of public and charitable routes—always check official sites for up-to-date numbers.
Continue reading →
Tools · 6 min read
Self-exclusion, apps, and screens: reducing access (UK)
GamStop, operator tools, and habits that can complement—not guarantee—change.
Continue reading →What this handbook does
We summarise themes that appear in public-health and recovery material—for learning only. Structured treatment and crisis care sit with qualified services.
Peer routes
Groups such as Gamblers Anonymous draw on shared experience. We point to official sites; we do not host meetings on this domain.
Household impact
Harm can affect partners and children. We mention specialist support for affected others—without replacing it.
About Gambling Harm Handbook UK
We try to reduce noise and stigma: British English, cautious claims, and links to recognised UK organisations.
We are not a healthcare provider or a gambling operator. For emergencies call 999.
- → No casino or betting offers
- → No affiliate links inside articles
- → Clear separation from the charity Gambling Therapy
Editorial boundaries
Help readers notice patterns linked to harmful gambling, understand tools such as GamStop, and know which door to knock on next—always stressing that serious difficulties deserve a proper conversation with a qualified service.
Read the about page →Kinds of support you may hear about
Educational labels only. Choosing an approach belongs to you and a registered professional.
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1
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Thoughts, urges, and behaviour—often discussed where chasing losses appears.
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2
Motivational interviewing
Explores mixed feelings about change without pushing labels.
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3
Family-focused work
Communication and boundaries at home alongside individual change.
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4
Mindfulness & emotion skills
Noticing urges and creating space before acting—often part of structured programmes.
What evidence often associates with progress
We avoid invented testimonials. Instead, broad patterns from research and service literature:
Ongoing contact
Staying linked to structured help or peer groups tends to add tools for managing lapses.
Fewer triggers
Reducing access to accounts, credit, and gambling apps is commonly part of safety planning.
Trusted relationships
Calm, informed support from people you trust can reinforce change—without replacing professional care when it is needed.
Recently updated in the journal
No paid posts inside articles. Newest entries first.
· 9 min · Tips
Ten practical tips to stop or cut down gambling
Concrete steps—from removing apps to talking to someone you trust—with clear limits on what general articles can do.
Open entry →· 7 min · Tips
Checklist: the first 48 hours without gambling
A flexible hour-by-hour style plan for the most intense urges—plus UK helpline numbers.
Open entry →· 6 min · Tools
GamStop: what it is, what it is not (United Kingdom)
Free self-exclusion from most UK-licensed online gambling operators—clear limits and myths.
Open entry →· 6 min · Resources
Gambling Therapy: online support—what to expect
A non-profit international service—chat, groups, and resources—without confusing it with NHS therapy.
Open entry →· 7 min · Awareness
Signs gambling might be becoming a problem
Behavioural and emotional patterns—why early conversation with your GP or GamCare matters.
Open entry →· 6 min · Resources
Where to get help in the UK (GamCare, NHS, GA)
A simple map of public and charitable routes—always check official sites for up-to-date numbers.
Open entry →· 8 min · Approaches
CBT and problem gambling: plain-English basics
What cognitive behavioural therapy often focuses on—educational summary, not a treatment plan.
Open entry →· 7 min · Relationships
When gambling hurts at home: conversations in the UK
Talking without shaming, and getting support for you if you are affected by someone else’s gambling.
Open entry →Need to speak to someone now?
This website is not a crisis service. Use official lines:
Site feedback (not clinical): hello@gamblingtherapyuk.co.uk