Help and Hope: Support for those who struggle with gambling, and those who care for them

 

By the end of this webinar, participants will have:1. Reviewed how to reach out for problem gambling help in CT. 2. Listed the variety of treatment options available in Region 5. 3. Examined the ways problem gambling affects families and loved ones. 4. Named the supports available for those affected by another person’s gambling.

Speakers from MCCA, the Bettor Choice Provider for Region 5:

Stephen Matos

Stephen Matos is a person in long-term recovery of over 35 years from gambling, alcohol and as a person affected from problem gambling.  After retiring from the State of CT DOT as an operations manager in 2012, Stephen began working for The Connection’s Bettor Choice Gambling Treatment Program and is currently with MCCA’s Bettor Choice Program as a Peer Counselor and Recovery Support Specialist for over 6 years.  Stephen facilitates recovery groups, family support groups along with seeing clients individually focusing on supporting those with gambling disorders and their family members along the road of recovery.  Stephen works closely with the DMHAS Problem Gambling Services, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling and the RBAHO’s in the facilitation of trainings, prevention, awareness activities and manages PGS gambling recovery support grant providing recovery opportunities for persons in recovery from problem and persons affected by it.  He has presented on peer support related issues at the 2015 National Conference on Problem Gambling, CCAR’s Pathways to Recovery Conference in 2016, honored with the CT Council on Problem Gambling’s Recovery Award in 2015 and presented at their State Conference in 2017 and 2022.  Stephen is a graduate of Advocacy Unlimited Recovery University, certified as a Recovery Support Specialist and has completed CCAR’s Recovery Coach Academy and is an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC-II). Stephen has worked the 24-hour problem helpline with CCPG.

Earle Sanford

Earle Sanford, LPC, LADC, MS Ed, D. Min, ICGC 11, currently serves a manager of problem gambling with the Bettor Choice problem gambling services with MCCA in Waterbury, Danbury and Torrington. As such he manages outreach to persons struggling with problem gambling in the northwest region of Connecticut. After serving for 30+ years as an ordained Protestant minister serving churches in New York State and Connecticut, Earle entered the addiction field. He worked for 10 years as an addiction counselor with the APT Foundation in New Haven. He then worked for the Connection as an addiction counselor for four years, the last two of which he spent exclusively working with program gambling clients in New Haven and Middletown.  In 2019, Earle joined MCCA and has worked as program manager since that time.

Elizabeth Genovese, MBA, LPC, ICGC-II

Elizabeth (Liz) Genovese has been a licensed clinician since 2014 specializing in addiction and over the past 3 years in Gambling Addiction and Recovery. She began working as an intern at Recovery Network of Programs in Bridgeport, CT in 2011 and able to transition into a full-time position and became involved in the Bettor Choice program in 2012. She began working at MCCA in 2014 and remained engaged in the Bettor Choice program. She was able to become a full-time clinician working with gamblers and their families along with the peer counselor in 2020. She has been able to engage with clients through individual, family and group sessions. She facilitates the Women’s Group, Family Group and shares responsibility for the Co-ed and Long-Term Recovery Groups that are offered through MCCA along with the peers engaging to support these groups.  She has her ICGC-II certification.

Liz previously worked at IBM for 24 years again starting as an intern and becoming full-time as a secretary and ending her career with several years as a Business Analyst and finally a Project Manager in the Finance and IT Department.

She is a graduate of University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT with a Certificate of Advanced Studies–6th year Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2012); aMasters of Business Administration (2009) and Masters of Counseling (2000) and Bachelors of Social Science (1992).  She has also been engaged in private practice for the past 6 years.

 

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