Real-Time Course

starting in April 2026.

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) 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. REQUIRED Reading: SAMSHA Introduction to Problem Gambling

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

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

    14. REQUIRED Reading: Impact of Gambling on Public Health

    15. Handout: Warning Signs

    16. Fact Sheet: Gaming and Gambling

    17. Handout - Instructor's Presentation

    18. Handout: Biopsychosocial Spiritual

    19. Handout: Gambling Pathways Questionnaire

    20. Resource: Knowledge Areas for Certification Exam

    21. OPTIONAL Resource: Gambling Moderation / Harm Reduction

    22. ADDITIONAL Resources

    23. PLEASE WATCH BEFORE next session

    24. Session 1 Recording Spring 2026

    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. Handout: Session 2 Instructor Slides 2026

    8. OPTIONAL Handout: Example of Relapse Prevention Plan

    9. OPTIONAL Resource: ASAM Criteria

    10. OPTIONAL Handout: Review of Screening Tools

    11. OPTIONAL Handout: Lie-Bet

    12. OPTIONAL Handout: SOGS

    13. OPTIONAL Handout: NORC

    14. OPTIONAL Handout: PGS

    15. OPTIONAL Handout: GPQ

    16. OPTIONAL Handout: GA 20 Questions

    17. OPTIONAL Handout: BBGS

    18. Session 2 Recording Fall 2025

    19. Session 2 Recording Spring 2026

    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. Resource: OHA Provides Access to GAMFIN

    7. Session 3 Instructor slides Handout Spring 2026

    8. Resource: Budget Worksheet

    9. Resource: Helping Clients Deal with Debt

    10. Session 3 Recording Fall 2025

    11. Session 3 Recording Spring 2026

    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 Fall 2025

    7. Session 4 Recording Spring 2026

    1. Session 5 Introduction

    2. Session 5 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 5 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. REQUIRED Reading: MHACBO Code of Conduct

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

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

    7. REQUIRED Reading: Principles of Trauma Informed Care

    8. HANDOUT: Instructor Slide Deck

    9. Group Scenarios

    10. Resource: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    11. Resource: Safety Plan

    12. OPTIONAL Reading: IPV in Treatment Seeking Gamblers

    13. Session 5 Recording Fall 2025

    14. Session 5 Recording Spring 2026

    1. Session 6 Introduction

    2. Session 6 Relevant Core Competencies

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

    4. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    5. Additional Resource: Gambling Action Cycle Handout

    6. Session 6 Recording Fall 2025

    7. Session 6 Recording Spring 2026

About this course

  • $195.00
  • 117 lessons
  • 70 hours of video content

Instructors

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.

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.

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 (3rd Ed., 2026).

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.
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