The First Call
Most people who reach out to us have been thinking about it for a while.
Sometimes it's been weeks. Sometimes it's been years. They've read the articles. They've recognized themselves, or someone they love, in what they read. And they still haven't called.
I understand why. Knowing something is wrong is one thing. Saying it out loud, to a stranger, is something else.
In my experience, the hardest part usually isn't the topic. It's not knowing what happens once you start talking. So let me take that part off the table.
I'm often the first voice people hear when they reach out to GamFin. Here's what that first conversation actually looks like.
You don't need to prepare anything
You don't need a script. You don't need your statements pulled together, or a total of what you owe. You don't need to know whether what you're going through has a name.
A lot of people open with "I'm not sure this is the right place." That's a perfectly good way to start. So is "I don't really know what to say."
You don't need the right words yet. Finding them is part of what we do together.
We start with you, not your numbers
When you reach out, you talk with a real person. We start by asking what's going on, in whatever words you have.
You set the pace. If you need a minute, take it. If you'd rather start with the smallest piece instead of the biggest one, that works too. If you go quiet, I'll wait.
I've spent over a decade in the nonprofit sector, and I'm trained in trauma-informed care.
That work teaches you something simple: people open up when they feel safe, not when they feel pushed. So we don't push.
A few practical questions, and why we ask
At some point, we'll ask a few practical things. None of them are a test.
- Where you live. One-on-one counseling is available through our state partners, so this helps us find the right path for you.
- Whether this is about your own gambling or someone else's. We support both. Family members and other affected others are welcome here.
- What feels most urgent right now. A bill due Friday. A conversation you're dreading. A number you're scared to look at. Wherever the pressure is, that's where we start.
There's no wrong answer to any of them.
What we won't do
We won't judge you. We won't lecture you. We won't ask you to explain how it got this far before we help.
We won't sell you anything. Our counselors don't sell products, take commissions, give investment advice, or make loans.
We won't diagnose you, either. GamFin isn't therapy or clinical treatment. We focus on the money side, and we work alongside any other support you have now or find later.
And we won't tell you to fix your finances first and deal with everything else later. Getting your financial footing back and healing emotionally happen side by side. You don't have to finish one before you start the other.
What happens after the first call
From there, you'll meet your financial counselor. Every GamFin counselor is credentialed, and they work only with people affected by gambling.
Sessions are one-on-one and virtual, in English or Spanish. Most people need three to five sessions. Together, you'll build a written GamFin Financial Recovery Plan that fits your real life. And we don't disappear once it's written. We stay with you through quarterly check-ins.
In partner states, your sessions are funded through state and third-party payer partnerships, so you won't receive a bill.
Not in a partner state yet? Not ready for one on one? You can start with one of our virtual group sessions. They're open to anyone in the country, with no cost to join.
If you're reaching out for someone you love
Some of the most important calls I take come from family members. A partner. A parent. A grown child.
If that's you, you don't have to wait for your loved one to be ready before you get support yourself. Your finances matter. So do you.
No first call starts perfectly
I've been part of a lot of first calls. I can't think of one that started perfectly. People cry. People laugh at the wrong moment. People apologize for taking up my time. They never are.
Every one of those calls was the right way to start, simply because it was a start.
You don't have to have it all figured out before you reach out. Figuring it out is what we do together. Whenever you're ready, we're here.
Ready to talk? Reach out to GamFin at https://scheduling.gamfin.com/
About Andrea Person
Andrea Person is Manager of Network and Account Services at GamFin, where she is often the first voice people hear when they reach out. She brings over a decade of nonprofit experience, a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, and specialized training in trauma-informed care.
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