All-in-one platform for addiction treatment online
Effective and well-researched internet-supported CBT treatment for problem gambling and alcohol abuse. Accessible and flexible for clients and treatment providers alike.
✅ Time and cost-effective treatment
✅ Integrated administration
✅ Easy client management
✅ GDPR compliant
In 2019 the average daily number of criminal sanctions clients was higher than the number of inmates in Finland. Working online gives us the possibility to intervene quickly and provide help with a very flexible schedule to be able to prevent gambling problems from escalating. We can reach all clients regardless of where they are located and what type of community sanction they are serving.
– Sofia Holmberg project manager at KRITS
Trusted by treatment providers worldwide
Organisations worldwide partner with Sustainable Interaction to deliver evidence-based digital addiction treatment.
How it works
75% of the work is done by the client, at their own pace and setting. Follow up on their progress and provide support throughout the treatment program.
Reach clients
Make it easy for clients to find and access the treatment. Expand your reach and visibility in online channels, like social media, websites, chat or email.
2. Screen clients
The client completes the built-in online screening, which helps assess their suitability and readiness to begin treatment.
3. Provide digital CBT and therapist calls
The client gains access to the CBT-based program, consisting of three main elements: self-study modules, ongoing therapist support, and a peer support forum for sharing experiences.
4. Evaluate clients
After treatment, the client is periodically asked to participate in follow-up surveys to help assess treatment effectiveness while allowing clients to reflect on their progress and satisfaction.
Digital treatment programs
-
Problem gambling treatment
Eight digital self-study modules focusing on different aspects of problem gambling. Each module is followed by a therapy call for support and reflection.
The eight modules that make up the program are:
– About gambling problems and your reasons for gambling
– Personal finances and triggers
– Social implications
– Acceptance and determination
– Chance and erroneous thoughts
– Economy
– Risks
– Relapsing, help and support
-
Alcohol abuse treatment
Seven self-guided modules on alcohol habits and change, completed online with supportive calls after each step.
The seven modules that make up the program are:
– About addiction and why you drink
– About health and knowing your triggers
– About your social life and an important decision
– About cravings and thoughts about alcohol
– About risky situations and involving others
– About stress and recovery
– About relapse, support and help
Benefits
Get all the advantages of digital care without compromising on quality of care, or the contact between client and therapist.
-
It’s effective
9 out of 10 clients are no longer classified as problem gamblers according to PGSI after completed treatment.
-
Increased engagement
High level of autonomy motivates the client to complete the treatment, allowing you to focus on the core issues during therapy sessions.
-
Lowering thresholds
Reach clients in time with better and faster access to care, higher level of anonymity and the possibility for the client to receive treatment from the comfort of their own daily routines.
-
Resource-effective
The digital format allows therapists to double the amount of clients in treatment.
-
Ongoing support
The online format allows people to carry their treatment and support network in their pocket. After having completed the treatment, clients can revisit the program; go back and read, watch videos and take advantage of the peer-support forum.
-
Research compatible
Well-structured digital data suitable for research.
What’s included
Everything you need to provide location-independent and effective treatment for problem gambling to any market.
-
Content
Screening, 8 treatment modules targeting different aspects of problem gambling, gambling diary and follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months.
-
Platform
Messaging function, peer support forum and notification system. Easily accessible from any device during and after treatment.
-
Administration
Assign multiple roles, create labels, edit content, manage clients, follow client progress, send private messages and extract reports.
-
Language
Available in English (UK) and Swedish. Additional languages at cost.
-
Technical support
Technical support available Monday through Friday 9-17 on normal working days.
-
Branding
The platform can be branded to align with your graphic profile.
-
Staff training
Therapists are offered training in using and working with the program.
Client testimonials
-
“Reading my answers to the exercises and realise the impact of my gambling behaviour made me feel very sad but at the same time helped me to face reality and find the motivation to change.”
— Client, Gambling
-
“I feel proud of myself, I feel now in a much better place. In the past I often felt embarrassed talking about my gambling problems with people, but these modules helped. As long as you are 100% honest with yourself you will get out a lot.”
— Client, Gambling
-
“The thing I’m most happy about with my treatment is that it worked, I’m sober. I could complete the exercises at my own convenience and reschedule the telephone appointment when everyday life got in the way.”
— Client, Alcohol
Client security
All personal data is encrypted and securely stored within the GDPR-compliant software, which has undergone independent external review and received approval.
Research
The online treatment program has been verified in large research studies with longitudinal follow-ups.
There are three scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals on the online treatment program.
The first study compared it with a control condition (N=66) (Carlbring & Smit, 2008). The treatment group improved significantly more than the controls regarding gambling problems, anxiety, depression, and quality of life, showing clinically meaningful changes—for example, the mean NODS score was 8.2 pre-treatment and 1.97 post-treatment in the treatment group (cut-off for pathological gambling = 5).
The results were sustained even at the 36-month follow-up, where three quarters of participants showed a clinically moderate or large improvement. This study excluded depressed problem gamblers, which limited the generalisability of the results.
The same treatment, but this time without excluding depressed patients, was evaluated in a non-comparative, single-group study (N = 284) (Carlbring et al., 2012). The results from the first study were replicated and remained stable over 36 months.
The treatment program has also been evaluated in Finland (Castrén et al, 2013). Between September 2007 and May 2011, a total of 471 participants (325 men and 146 women) enrolled in an eight-week Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (our online treatment program) offered for problem gamblers in Finland. Of these, 224 participants completed the treatment.
After the treatment period, significant improvements were observed in the following variables: gambling related problems (NODS), gambling urge, impaired control over gambling, alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C), social consequences, gambling-related cognitive erroneous thoughts and depression (MADRS).
References
Carlbring, P. & Smit, F. (2008). Randomized trial of Internet- delivered self-help with telephone support for pathological gamblers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 6, 1090–1094.
Carlbring, P., Degerman, N., Jonsson, J. & Andersson, G. (2012). Internet-based treatment of pathological gambling with a three-year follow-up. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 41, 1–14.
Castren, S., Pankakoski, M., Tamminen, M. Lipsanen, J., Ladouceur, R., Lahti, T. (2013) Internet-based CBT intervention for gamblers in Finland: Experiences from the field. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 54(3) Pages: 230-235 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12034.
WEBINAR
In this webinar, Jakob Jonsson, PhD and certified psychologist at Sustainable Interaction, shares insights gained from nearly two decades of working with online treatment for gambling problems.
20 years of treating gambling problems online
Relevant articles
