Betting on Behavioral Healthcare Professionals: Recognizing and Responding to Problem Gambling

Learn how to identify and address gambling-related concerns with confidence! This engaging training equips behavioral health professionals with practical tools, culturally responsive strategies, and evidence-based approaches to assess and intervene effectively.

This training emphasizes integrating gambling screening across healthcare settings utilizing both individual and systemic strategies to support recovery and wellness in every setting.

Objectives:

• Define key terms related to gambling, problem gambling, and gambling disorder.
• Describe prevalence, comorbidities, and populations most at risk.
• Strengthen screening and assessment practices by identifying and using validated tools (e.g., BBGS, SOGS) and applying culturally responsive approaches.
• Demonstrate communication and intervention strategies using CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and recovery-oriented tools.
• Learn about individual and systemic interventions, including peer support, financial literacy, and recovery pathways.
• Access and share clinical, community, and culturally relevant resources to support clients and families impacted by gambling.

PENDING CE Credits: 3.5

Presenter:

Glimar “Glee” Rodriguez Parrilla –  Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

Glimar “Glee” Rodriguez Parrilla is a bilingual educator and licensed clinician committed to advancing health equity and supporting marginalized communities. With over a decade of experience in behavioral health, she is a compassionate advocate and a valued member of a collective of professionals dedicated to improving care for underserved populations.

As a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Glimar specializes in treating individuals with co-occurring disorders and complex, intersecting care needs across diverse clinical and non clinical settings. Identifying as a professional in recovery and a trained recovery coach, she integrates her lived experience into her practice, empowering clients and fostering resilience within the communities she serves.

Glimar earned her Master of Social Work from Simmons University, where she received advanced training in through the SIMPACT-SOWEP Grant. This foundation informs her innovative, trauma-informed approach to integrated behavioral healthcare.

Over the past four years, Glimar has focused her efforts on addressing problem gambling. Through direct, clinical work, consultation and education, she has contributed to the Commonwealth’s capacity-building initiatives for behavioral health professionals and organizations. Her work not only addresses the immediate needs of individuals in recovery but also advocates for systemic change, aiming to create sustainable, long-term solutions within the broader healthcare landscape.