”Now I can help clients no matter where they are, while I can work remotely myself.”

Can online treatment be particularly suitable for people with gambling problems? Yes, it is undoubtedly a good complement to traditional treatment to reach out and ensure that more people receive timely treatment, says Pia Norgren, licensed psychologist, specialist in addiction psychology, and co-owner of IBT Uppsala. Pia uses our online treatment for gambling problems to treat clients throughout Sweden. We spoke with Pia to learn more about how it's going and why she chose to work with online treatment. 

Why did you want to start treating gambling problems online?

I wanted access to a structured treatment for gambling problems and to reach more clients. Now I can help clients no matter where they are, while I can work remotely myself.

I feel that online treatment suits people with gambling problems particularly well. They are used to sitting at the computer, and I find that it's almost easier for them to engage in treatment in this format compared to meeting physically and doing assignments with pen and paper.

Very few seek help for their gambling problems through the municipality. They don't want to go there and ask for treatment. There is a significant shame associated with gambling problems – in that case, it can be a good alternative to receive treatment digitally and more anonymously. I have weekly video calls with the clients I treat, where we go through and discuss the tasks the client has done independently during the week. That meeting is needed and important.

How does online treatment differ from "traditional treatment"?

The fact that there is a set treatment structure with ready-made content makes it easier to maintain a thread in the treatment. It's easier to stick to the topic when you have a structure to follow. In traditional treatment, it can be easy to get lost in something else happening at the moment.

For clients with severe comorbidity, online treatment may not be as suitable. However, I can imagine a combination where part of the treatment occurs face-to-face, while online treatment is used as a supplement to address the addiction. 

What advantages do you see in using online treatment with a structured format?

First and foremost, I have access to modern tools that are in line with the times to effectively reach more people. For example, I don't have to prepare assignments and send them with clients. 

I like that the treatment includes many educational components. Relapse prevention is not really a treatment but more of an education. In online treatment, the client can absorb the knowledge on their own and at their own pace, giving us more room to focus on the core issues during our conversations.

I can follow the client's work in the treatment and see how he or she has answered the various tasks. During our video calls, I use the client's answers as a basis for the conversation. It makes it easy to start a conversation where the client can then speak freely.

What trends do you see for online treatment in the future?

I think there are too few treatment options for addiction in general. I have worked with clients who are criminally involved. They are difficult to reach, and not all therapists want to work with them. Moreover, it may be that you can't even meet them. Being able to work digitally with them would have been very good.

How is the collaboration with Sustainable Interaction?

Great! I have received quick feedback on questions, and everything has been straightforward.