·Date: October 10, 2023
Location: Hosted by Mental Health Consultants-UFCW Local 1776, 3031 A Walton Rd, First Floor Union Hall, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Title of presentation: Gambling Basics; The Behavior, Warning Signs and Treatment Options
3 Goals/Objectives:
1. Educate and inform Employee Assistance Professionals regarding gambling disorder as an addiction, and the potential risks this poses to individual members and their families.
2. Educate and inform Employee Assistance Professionals regarding the potential warning signs that someone might be struggling with gambling and/or gambling disorder.
3. Educate and inform Employee Assistance Professionals regarding the treatment options and services available to individual members and their families to address struggles with gambling and/or gambling disorder. This will include a discussion of potential ethical considerations and privacy issues
Harry Levant –
Harry Levant is an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor and mental health therapist in private practice and directs the gambling treatment program with Ethos Treatment, LLC in Broomall and Jenkintown, PA. Harry is also proud to serve as an adviser to the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University. He is also a doctoral student at Northeastern and his research, thesis, and dissertation are focused on developing a public health approach to prevent harm related to gambling and gambling disorder.
Harry holds a Master’s in Professional Clinical Counseling from La Salle University and a Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law. Has been recognized as an
Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC-I). He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Counseling Association, the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, Chi Sigma Iota National Honor Society for Counselors, and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania.
Harry is also a public health advocate and appears on television and radio addressing the prevention and treatment of gambling disorder. He is the author of the law review commentary “Upon Further Review, the NFL Gambling Strategy is a Risk to Public Health” and co-author with Professor Richard Daynard and Professor Mark Gottlieb of the Boston Globe op-ed article, “Massachusetts Makes a Losing Bet on Gambling”.
Harry is also a gambling addict in recovery. He made his last bet on April 27, 2014. On that day, gambling addiction brought him within seconds of taking his life. “Gambling is a known addictive product and gambling disorder is an addiction just like alcohol, drugs, and tobacco”. One out of every two people struggling with gambling disorder will experience suicidal ideation and one in five will attempt suicide. Gambling disorder typically presents with other co-occurring mental health and substance disorder problems and can cause devastating harm to people and families. The good news is that help is available and with appropriate treatment recovery is possible.
“It is a privilege to work at Ethos where we treat and support people and families struggling to overcome gambling addiction. I am grateful to the Employee Assistance Professionals Association for the opportunity to participate in this vitally important public health discussion.”
2.0 Credits: PDH, CAC, APA, SW CEU’s
9:30 Networking
10:00 Introductions
10:00-12:00 Presentation
12:00 Announcements
12:15-1:00 Board Meeting