Women Gamblers Write a Voice: Exploring Journaling as an Effective Counseling and Research Tool

Abstract

With a record number of women reporting gambling addictions, and more and more gaming facilities being built throughout Canada, evidence-based treatment protocols need to be developed to best treat women who develop gambling addictions. This article focuses on the effectiveness of the journaling process—as a qualitative data collection approach and as a therapeutic technique—by exploring the opinions and perceptions of the women participating in a women-only problem-gambling counseling group. Results illustrate that the reflective and intellectual processes of journaling make it an effective counseling tool and research technique.