Real-Time Course

starting in October 2025.

Are you ready to advance your career in behavioral health? This live online training provides the 30 educational hours required to become certified as a Gambling Addictions Counselor (CGAC) in Oregon. Why join this course? There are many reasons. First, it meets Oregon certification requirements. Second, it is led by experts in the field of problem gambling treatment. Third, it is interactive and flexible. It includes both live virtual classes, which are held on Friday mornings, and self-paced lessons. Fourth, course content is built around the evidence-based core competencies for problem gambling treatment providers. Lastly, the course is nationally recognized: it yields 30 continuing education hours approved by NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors), IPGGC (International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization), and MHACBO (Mental Health & Addictions Certification Board of Oregon).

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome!

    2. Course Description

    3. Course Objectives

    4. Before we begin...

    5. Your Professional Background

    6. Pretest Invitation

    7. Pretest

    8. Session 1 Introduction

    9. Session 1 Learning Objectives

    10. Session 1 Relevant Core Competencies

    11. Problem Gambling Treatment Overview - Instructor Slides

    12. Handout: Instructor Presentation

    13. Resource: Knowledge Areas for Certification Exam

    14. REQUIRED Reading: SAMSHA Introduction to Problem Gambling

    15. REQUIRED Reading: Gambling Research Exchange Ontario Rapid Evidence Review

    16. REQUIRED Reading: Guide to Oregon's Core Competencies for Problem Gambling Treatment Providers

    17. REQUIRED Reading: Impact of Gambling on Public Health

    18. Handout: Warning Signs

    19. Fact Sheet: Gaming and Gambling

    20. OPTIONAL Resource: Gambling Moderation / Harm Reduction

    21. ADDITIONAL Resources

    22. PLEASE WATCH BEFORE next session

    23. Handout: Biopsychosocial Spiritual

    24. Handout: Gambling Pathways Questionnaire

    25. Session 1 Recording Fall 2025

    1. Session 2 Introduction

    2. Session 2 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 2 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. Required: GPQ Pathways Model Assessment

    5. REQUIRED Reading: National Council on Problem Gambling Gambling Assessment Manual

    6. REQUIRED Resource: OHA Problem Gambling Assessment

    7. OPTIONAL Resource: ASAM Criteria

    8. Handout: Example of Relapse Prevention Plan

    9. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    10. Video: First Phone Call - Instructor only

    11. Session 2 Recording Spring 2025

    12. Session 2 Recording Fall 2025

    1. Session 3 Introduction

    2. Session 3 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 3 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. REQUIRED Reading: NCPG Problem Gamblers and Their Finances

    5. Resource: True Link

    6. OHA Provides Access to GAMFIN

    7. Handout: Session 3 Slide Deck

    8. Session 3 Recording Fall 2025

    1. Session 4 Introduction

    2. Session 4 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 4 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. REQUIRED Reading: Motivational Interviewing in Problem Gambling

    5. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    6. Session 4 Recording Spring 2025

    7. Session 4 Recording Fall 2025

    1. Session 5 Introduction

    2. Session 5 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 5 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. HANDOUT: Instructor Slide Deck

    5. Group Discussion Scenarios

    6. Resource: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    7. Resource: Safety Plan

    8. REQUIRED Reading: MHACBO Code of Conduct

    9. REQUIRED Reading: IPGGC Code of Ethics for Clinical Professionals

    10. REQUIRED Reading: IPGGC Code of Conduct for Clinical Professionals

    11. REQUIRED Reading: Principles of Trauma Informed Care

    12. OPTIONAL Reading: IPV in Treatment Seeking Gamblers

    13. Session 5 Recording Spring 2025

    14. Session 5 Recording Fall 2025

    1. Session 6 Introduction

    2. Session 6 Relevant Core Competencies

    3. REQUIRED Reading: Evidence Based Treatments Chapter 4 and 6

    4. Additional Resource: Gambling Action Cycle Handout

    5. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    6. Session 6 Recording Spring 2025

    7. Session 6 Recording Fall 2025

About this course

  • $195.00
  • 109 lessons
  • 125 hours of video content

Instructors

Instructor Dave Hsiao

Dave Hsiao, MA, LPC, CADC III, CGAC II is Residential and Extended Care Management Unit Manager with the Oregon Health Authority. With more than 20 years of experience in counseling, he specializes in substance use disorders, problem gambling, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Dave is committed to improving outcomes through culturally responsive practice, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and their families. His work includes training and supervising recovery mentors and counselors and leading outreach efforts across the Portland area and the Oregon coast.

Instructor Raul Ramirez

Raul Ramirez, CADC II, CGAC II, QMHA is a Problem Gambling Treatment Specialist with the Oregon Health Authority. He is a bilingual (English/Spanish) provider and member of the Multiethnic Advisory Committee, supporting awareness and community-building around gambling-related harm among underserved populations. Raul has experience delivering clinical supervision for professionals pursuing CADC and CGAC credentials. He is a strong advocate for equity and culturally responsive care for LGBTQIA2S+ and Latinx communities, with expertise in program and systems development, engagement and retention strategies, and community education.

OHA Instructor Brandie Lyday

Brandie Lyday, MA, LMFT, CGAC II, CADC III owns and manages True Heart Therapy, a mental health group practice. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and serves as adjunct faculty providing family therapy supervision for Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. Brandie previously worked as an Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Treatment Program Development Analyst and has extensive experience as an outpatient addiction treatment specialist, delivering individual, group, couple, and family therapies, including work with clients involved in the criminal legal system.

Instructor Cort Dorn-Medeiros

Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros, PhD, LPC, CADC III is assistant professor in the Professional Mental Health Counseling–Addiction specialization and department chair of Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology at Lewis & Clark. His areas of specialization include substance use and process addictions, co-occurring disorders, integrated care, and motivational interviewing and enhancement therapies. Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is co-founder and program director of the Gaming and Tech in Excess (GATE) program at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center. He has published in multiple academic outlets, including a recent book chapter on technology safety and digital citizenship in school counseling.

Veronica Valdez

Veronica Valdez, MA is Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Associate, CGAC II, CADC-R, and QMHP-R who completed her internship at Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. She is experienced in providing integrated treatment including neurofeedback for mental health, gambling, and substance use disorders. Formerly working at Emergence Addictions and Behavioral Health in Eugene, Oregon, she is now with True Heart Therapy. Her work emphasizes comprehensive, evidence-informed care tailored to individual client needs.

Senior Instructor Teresa McDowell

Teresa McDowell, EdD, LMFT is professor emerita at Lewis & Clark, where she served as department chair and co-founded the college’s Problem Gambling Services. With over 40 years of experience as a clinician, educator, administrator, and consultant, Teresa focuses on workforce development, equity-based clinical practice, integrated treatment for problem gambling, and clinical supervision. She is a social researcher, program evaluator, and consultant with Partners in Social Research and Senior Instructor for ACORN. Dr. McDowell has authored more than 50 scholarly publications and is lead author of Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Applying Third Order Thinking to Theory and Practice.

Pricing

Course cost is subsidized by the Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Services (OHA PGS).

ACORN

is committed to excellence.

ACORN has been approved by the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization (IPGGC) and the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) to provide continuing education courses. Additionally, ACORN has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7274. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACORN is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) logo
International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization (IPGGC)