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), 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. 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 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 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. 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. Resource: 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 Fall 2025

    1. Session 5 Introduction

    2. Session 5 Learning Objectives

    3. Session 5 Relevant Core Competencies

    4. Resource: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    5. Resource: Safety Plan

    6. REQUIRED Reading: MHACBO Code of Conduct

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

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

    9. REQUIRED Reading: Principles of Trauma Informed Care

    10. HANDOUT: Instructor Slide Deck

    11. Group Discussion Scenarios

    12. OPTIONAL Reading: IPV in Treatment Seeking Gamblers

    13. 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. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    5. Additional Resource: Gambling Action Cycle Handout

    6. Session 6 Recording Fall 2025

About this course

  • $195.00
  • 98 lessons
  • 42 hours of video content

Instructors

Veronica Valdez

Vernoica Valdez, marriage and family therapist registered associate, CGACII, CADC-R & QMHP-R provides integrated mental health, gambling, Neurofeedback, and substance use disorder treatment in Eugene, Oregon at Emergence Addictions and behavioral health. She currently holds a Masters of Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy from Lewis and Clark College, where she interned at Lewis and Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. When Veronica is not working, you can find her salsa dancing, reading anything romantasy, or cuddling her 6 year old Pitbull Dante.

Instructor Cort Dorn-Medeiros

Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros, PhD, LPC, CADC III is an Assistant Professor in the Professional Mental Health Counseling - Specialization in Addiction program and current Department Chair of the Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology department at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. Areas of specialization include substance use and process addictions, co-occurring disorders, integrated care, and motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement therapy. Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III in the state of Oregon. Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is a co-founder and program director of the Gaming and Tech in Excess (GATE) program at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center. Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is published in a variety of academic outlets and most recently has published a book chapter on promoting technology safety and digital citizenship in school counseling.

Senior Instructor Teresa McDowell

Teresa McDowell, Ed.D., LMFT is a professor emerita at Lewis & Clark, in Portland, Oregon, where she served as Department Chair and co-founded Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. Dr. McDowell has served as a licensed marriage and family therapist, family therapy educator, program director, educational administrator, and consultant over the past 40 years. Her work has primarily focused on counselor education and workforce development, organizational consultation, international family therapy, equity-based clinical practice, integrated treatment for problem gambling, and clinical supervision. She currently serves as a social researcher, program evaluator, and consultant with Partners in Social Research and is the senior instructor for the Advanced Career Online Resource Network (ACORN). Dr. McDowell has published over 50 refereed journal articles and book chapters. She has presented her work at numerous conferences across eight countries. She is the author of Applying Critical Social Theory to Family Therapy Practice and first co-author of Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equity-Based Theory and Practice (1st and 2nd Editions). Her work in problem gambling treatment includes authoring the Working with Families in Problem Gambling Treatment handbook, research on core competencies for problem gambling counselors and prevention specialists, and extensive contributions to the development of Oregon’s problem gambling treatment workforce.

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)