Gambling disorder is a recognized psychiatric condition — and one of the most undertreated. As a certified gambling counselor and PMHNP-BC, Kristin provides integrated psychiatric and counseling care for problem gambling, addressing both the behavior and the underlying mental health conditions driving it.
Anyone struggling with problem gambling — whether sports betting, casino gambling, online gaming, or lottery — who wants to regain control. We treat gambling disorder with the same rigor and compassion as any other psychiatric condition.
Gambling disorder rarely exists alone. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and substance use frequently co-occur. Our integrated PMHNP approach means we address both the gambling behavior and its psychiatric roots in one place.
Psychiatric intake · Gambling disorder assessment · Personalized treatment plan · CBT-based counseling · Medication evaluation · Ongoing follow-up care.
Gambling disorder (also called compulsive or pathological gambling) is a recognized mental health condition in the DSM-5. It shares neurobiological similarities with substance use disorders — the brain's reward pathways respond to gambling the same way they do to drugs and alcohol.
Gambling disorder is characterized by persistent, recurring problematic gambling behavior that causes significant distress or impairment in personal, family, or occupational functioning. Because it activates the same reward circuits as addictive substances, it responds to similar psychiatric and behavioral treatments.
This means the most effective treatment is an integrated approach: addressing both the compulsive behavior directly through evidence-based therapy, and the underlying mental health conditions — depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and substance use — that so frequently drive and sustain it.
Constantly thinking about past gambling, planning next sessions, or finding ways to get money to gamble
Returning to gamble after losing money in an attempt to win it back
Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, reduce, or stop gambling behavior
Gambling to escape problems, relieve anxiety, depression, or feelings of helplessness
Concealing the extent of gambling from family, friends, or employers
Significant debt, borrowing money, or jeopardizing relationships or employment
Gambling disorder is highly treatable. Our integrated psychiatric approach addresses both the compulsive behavior and the underlying mental health conditions that fuel it.
The gold-standard treatment for gambling disorder. CBT helps identify and restructure distorted thoughts — the "gambler's fallacy," superstitions, and illusions of control — that sustain problem gambling.
Certain medications are effective for gambling disorder, particularly for impulse control and co-occurring depression or anxiety. Naltrexone has shown efficacy in reducing gambling urges. We tailor medication to your full psychiatric picture.
A collaborative, patient-centered approach that helps you explore your own motivation for change — without judgment or pressure. Especially helpful in early stages when ambivalence about stopping is common.
Gambling disorder frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use, and PTSD. We treat all conditions simultaneously — a crucial factor in sustained recovery outcomes.
Gambling disorder affects the whole family. We provide education, communication tools, and support resources to help families navigate recovery together.
Gambling counseling and psychiatric medication management are fully available via telehealth. Confidential, flexible scheduling means you can access care from wherever you are — including while traveling.
Las Vegas is home to more casinos per capita than anywhere in the world. For residents, gambling isn't just accessible — it's embedded in everyday life. Workplaces, restaurants, gas stations, and even grocery stores contain slot machines. Social events, business meetings, and family gatherings often revolve around casinos.
This environment makes both developing and recovering from gambling disorder uniquely difficult. Triggers are unavoidable. Even a trip to the grocery store can involve passing rows of slot machines. Unlike recovery from substances, you cannot simply avoid all exposure to gambling in Las Vegas.
At Family1st, Kristin McKnight provides Las Vegas-specific context to treatment — including relapse prevention strategies specifically designed for an environment where gambling opportunities are constant and culturally normalized. Recovery here requires a different framework, and we are equipped to provide it.
Start Confidential Care Today"Gambling disorder is not a moral failing or a lack of self-control. It is a medical condition with identifiable brain mechanisms — and it is treatable."
— Kristin McKnight, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC1-800-522-4700
Available 24/7 — free, confidential crisis support, referrals, and counseling resources for Nevada residents. Call anytime, including while you're waiting for your first appointment with us.
gamblersanonymous.org
Free peer support meetings using a 12-step recovery model. Multiple Las Vegas-area meeting locations available in-person, with virtual meetings also offered. GA can be a powerful complement to professional psychiatric treatment.
gam-anon.org
Support groups specifically for family members, spouses, and loved ones of people with gambling disorder. Gambling disorder affects the entire family system — Gam-Anon helps families heal alongside their loved one in recovery.