only you can stop

I want to post this and it is not intended to be provacatively controversial, however it is something which has bugged me greatly in my pursuit of stopping this addiction. Counselling! Well after you have realised gambling is a problem and/or you have lost more than you can afford or gambling is getting in the way of 'normal' life, then the obvious thing is to seek counselling. I have struggled with gambling addiction for a number of years and presumed if I started a course of counselling it would help greatly; to be able to talk with a professional who understands gambling and the way it makes you feel and behave. I couldn't really have been further from the truth. The counselling sessions I've experienced have been from qualified professionals, but that does not mean they understand the first thing about a gambling addiction. True, every individual is just that: Individual, and so counselling will agree with some more than others. But I am still amazed at the 'tick box' mentality I have experienced from counselling. Now please let me clarify, that the instances I have been for counselling, I have gone solely off my own back with hopes and aims that I can stop or at least control the addiction which is crippling me. I will state simply that to me, counsellors have the mentality of taking credit for the weeks you abstain and claim that their input is having a great effect, however should you slip off the cart, then the attitude of the counsellors is one of 'Well, it seems you are not ready to stop!' or 'You don't want to stop, therefore I cannot help you!' Which begs the obvious question as to what the heck counsellors roles are? Gambling is an addiction! The same as drugs, as drink, the same as anything that causes the individual to continue to do a damaging act and (this is the crux) STILL WANT TO DO IT! That is the urge, that is what drives us to not be able to stop or not to WANT to stop doing it! In my opinion a counsellor who states that 'It seems you don't want to stop' should be sacked on the spot! The counsellor's job surely should be to offer insight and encourage the individual ways of resisting and strategies. Not simply dismiss a case that proves a little difficult. I'm sure I will will get a lot saying that counselling has worked for them and that is fine and always pleasing to hear, but I thought I should be blunt and say of my opinions and experiences of counselling. And as a footnote, I will concede there is an element of truth that the individual should have the motivation to ultimately want to stop, but the counsellor should be able to see the meaning of the word want on all levels. Ultimately wanting to stop and having wanting urges are two very different things.