Native Las Vegan Offers Hope for Problem Gambling

As a native of Southern Nevada, Lindsey Harrison, a graduate student in counselor education, knows first-hand that Las Vegas - a city built on the gaming industry - has a problem gambling rate that is twice the national average.

In response to community need, the counselor education program at UNLV is one of the few training programs for counselors of problem gambling and gambling addiction. Harrison is training to be a counselor for problem gambling and addictions and is the recipient of the Harrah’s Graduate Assistantship in Problem Gambling, through which she has the opportunity to facilitate one-on-one treatment sessions with individual gambling clients. Harrison sees clients in the UNLV Problem Gambling Treatment Program who are self-referred.

She says that even in a recession, the clients for problem gambling are increasing. She says that there are few gambling counselors in Las Vegas – especially those who do one-to-one counseling like she provides. This format is often appealing because many people are uncomfortable with group therapy sessions.

“Lindsey is one of our best examples of what a professional counselor aspires to be; she works steadfastly on her skills, knowledge, and clinical development,” says Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, associate professor and chair of the counselor education program. “She will make a fine colleague and contribute much to the profession of counseling and addictions prevention. Her future clients will benefit from her specialization and preparation.”

Harrison says that with the assistantship, which includes funding for tuition in addition to the experience, she was able to give up her part-time jobs and focus on her schoolwork and the work related to her career.

“I’m happy that I have this graduate assistantship because I have more experience seeing clients face to face, which has helped me tremendously,” says Harrison.  “I’ve gotten more experience and more hands-on work.”

Harrison, who also completed her bachelor’s degree in counseling at UNLV, enjoys working with crisis counseling, and hopes to pursue a career in this outpatient counseling area when she completes her master’s degree in mental health and addictions this May.

“I think this program at UNLV is great,” says Harrison. “As soon as I graduate, I want to help and be a mentor for other people who want to become gambling counselors in the field.”