Gambling Map and Money Safeguards: A Free CBT Worksheet for Harmful Gambling

Behavioural Addiction · CBT · Practice-informed

A page to fill in together at Session 1. It records how gambling shows up, what it gives and costs, the client's goal and the money and device safeguards the client chooses, with a check on thoughts of self-harm.

Underlying mechanism: CBT-Informed Functional Assessment and Stimulus-Control Planning for Gambling Disorder

What it helps with

Understanding what gambling gives the client, so the replacement can do the same job without the cost.
Choosing practical safeguards such as blocking software, self-exclusion and bank gambling blocks.
Agreeing a goal that belongs to the client, with review points.
Opening a direct conversation about risk, debt and safety at the start.

How clinicians use it

Use it at Session 1 and keep the client's own words.
Ask what gambling gives and what it costs without judgement.
Let the client choose each safeguard and record who will help and the date it is done by.
Reopen the page at Sessions 2 and 5 to see what is still undone.

Clinical Implementation Guide

Map how gambling shows up and what it gives and costs.
Agree the goal and choose the safeguards.
Check thoughts of self-harm and follow up if above 0.

What the worksheet looks like

Gambling Map and Money Safeguards — worked example
What I get from it	What it costs me
Excitement and escape after work	Money, sleep and trust

Clinical cautions

Not a diagnostic or risk-assessment tool. Ask directly about suicidal thinking at every session and follow local risk procedures, because suicidal thinking is a recognised risk in people with gambling problems. Deal with debt emergencies, coercion and financial abuse first, and refer to debt advice or legal services. Do not involve a concerned other if there is any sign of coercive control. Screen for alcohol and drug use, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and trauma. Avoid shaming language. The National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133. The map is a formulation aid and not an assessment of severity. Use a validated gambling severity measure where available. The clinician never holds the client's money.

References

Megnin-Viggars, O., Mavranezouli, I., Downing, B. C., Welton, N. J., Fricke, A., Francis, J., Reeves, T., Pilling, S., Bowden-Jones, H., Sahakian, B. J., Rahman, M. S., Dawson, R., Geel, A., & Gaskell, M. (2026). Psychological interventions for harmful gambling: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 15(3), 971-980. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00445
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2025). Gambling-related harms: Identification, assessment and management (NICE guideline NG248). Published 28 January 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng248
Syvertsen, A., Ebrahimi, O. V., Sagoe, D., Kristensen, J. H., & Pallesen, S. (2026). Undirected and directed networks of problem gambling: Follow the money trail. European Psychiatry, 69(1), e100. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.12261

Copyright and use in research

Suggested citation (APA 7th edition): Pomfret, R. (2026). Calm the Chase: A CBT-anchored, shame-aware protocol for adults with harmful gambling (Version 1.0) [Therapist guide and worksheets]. Third Wave Therapy Tools. https://thirdwavetherapytools.com/

Part of

Calm the Chase

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