1930 Marlton Pike East, Suite O-75, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Jersey Behavioral Health 856-856-4499

Conditions we treat

Gambling, gaming and behavioral addiction support in NJ

When gambling, gaming or compulsive behaviors begin to crowd out the rest of your life, support can help you regain balance without shame.

Call 856-856-4499
  • DMHAS, New Jersey Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicesLicensed by the State of New Jersey
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Understanding behavioral addictions

When a behavior becomes hard to control

Behavioral addictions involve patterns such as gambling or gaming that become difficult to control despite harm. The concern is not simply how often you do something, but whether you have lost control and continue despite consequences for health, finances or relationships.

Gambling disorder and gaming disorder have defined diagnostic criteria. Other compulsive patterns require careful assessment rather than an automatic addiction label. A clinician can explore anxiety, depression, trauma, impulsivity and substance use alongside the behavior.

These figures come from different populations and methods. They are not local estimates, treatment outcomes or diagnostic tests. Ask admissions about specialist availability.

Behavioral addictions by the numbers

1.2%
Estimated share of the world’s adult population with gambling disorder, according to WHO. [1]
3.05%
Pooled gaming-disorder prevalence across 53 studies, not a population-wide or New Jersey estimate. [2]
1.96%
Gaming-disorder prevalence in the same review when stricter sampling criteria were applied. [2]

Signs that support may help

  • Loss of control

    Repeatedly spending more time or money than you planned.

  • Continuing despite harm

    Returning to a behavior despite financial, health or relationship consequences.

  • Secrecy and shame

    Hiding the extent of a behavior, losses or time spent.

  • Life getting smaller

    Missing responsibilities and giving up meaningful activities.

  • Urges and distress

    Feeling preoccupied, irritable or distressed when trying to stop.

  • Repeated unsuccessful changes

    Trying to cut back but struggling to sustain the change.

  • Every plan is personal.

    You'll build coping skills, emotional regulation and relapse prevention strategies.

Your path to care

A personalized plan that treats both the mind and the body.

  1. Understand the pattern

    Assess the behavior, its consequences and any co-occurring mental health concerns.

  2. Set practical goals

    Create realistic goals around safety, control and daily functioning.

  3. Match treatment to need

    Discuss mental health care and whether a behavioral-addiction specialist is needed.

  4. Build alternatives

    Practice managing urges, triggers and difficult emotions.

  5. Protect recovery

    Plan for setbacks and involve trusted support with your permission.

Clinical review

  • Prepared for review by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director
  • Clinical review is pending
  • Informed by the sources listed below
  • Educational information, not a diagnosis

Find the right level of support

Our team can assess whether PHP, IOP or Virtual IOP fits your needs. When specialist or more intensive treatment is needed, ask about referral options. Program fit and availability are confirmed during assessment.

856-856-4499

Conditions we treat

Behavioral patterns that deserve assessment

  • Gambling disorder

    Persistent gambling despite harm, with impaired control and growing priority in daily life.

  • Gaming disorder

    Gaming that takes priority over other activities and continues despite significant impairment.

  • Compulsive shopping

    Repeated buying that causes distress or financial harm. This is not automatically a recognized addiction diagnosis.

  • Problematic online use

    Online activity that disrupts sleep, work or relationships needs individualized assessment.

  • Other compulsive behaviors

    Repetitive patterns may relate to anxiety, mood, impulse control or another condition.

  • Co-occurring concerns

    Substance use, depression and anxiety may interact with the behavior and need coordinated care.

Treatment approaches to discuss

Your clinician can explain which approaches fit your needs and which may require specialist care.

  • CBT

    Explore triggers, beliefs and habits that maintain harmful behavior.

  • Motivational work

    Identify your own reasons for change and realistic next steps.

  • DBT-informed skills

    Practice distress tolerance and emotion regulation.

  • Specialist support

    Discuss addiction-focused services and practical financial safeguards.

Insurance we work with

We work with most major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Horizon BCBSNJ, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. We'll verify your benefits for free, usually the same day.

  • Aetna insurance logo
  • Anthem insurance logo
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance logo
  • Cigna insurance logo
  • UnitedHealthcare insurance logo
  • Optum insurance logo
  • Carelon insurance logo
  • Harvard Pilgrim insurance logo
  • UMR insurance logo
  • Horizon BCBSNJ
  • Humana
  • Magellan
  • Beacon
  • Compsych
  • Health Net
  • Independence Administrators
  • Carefirst

Getting started

  1. 1

    Reach out

    Contact our Admissions Team 24/7 or fill out a brief online form to verify insurance and begin the process.

  2. 2

    Complete a pre-screen

    We'll assess your needs and match you with a personalized treatment plan developed by licensed professionals.

  3. 3

    Start healing

    Schedule your initial intake evaluation and meet your treatment team, often within 24 hours of reaching out.

Frequently asked questions

Is frequent gaming always an addiction?

No. High engagement alone does not establish a disorder. Loss of control, continuation despite harm and significant impairment are central concerns.

Are all compulsive behaviors the same as OCD?

No. Similar-looking behaviors can have different causes. OCD, behavioral addictions and impulse-control conditions need different assessments and treatment plans.

Can PHP or IOP help?

Structured mental health treatment may help when co-occurring symptoms disrupt daily functioning. Admissions can assess fit and discuss specialist referrals.

Will my family be involved?

With your permission, trusted family or support people can help develop boundaries and a recovery plan.

Sources

  1. [1] World Health Organization. Gambling, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gambling
  2. [2] Stevens et al. Global prevalence of gaming disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867420962851
  3. [3] World Health Organization. Gaming disorder. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/gaming-disorder

Treatment can be life changing. Reach out today.

We'll verify your benefits for free and schedule a confidential assessment.

856-856-4499

In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911.

Prepared for clinical review by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director. Review pending. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.

Jersey Behavioral Health · 1930 Marlton Pike East, Suite O-75, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Serving Cherry Hill and South Jersey

Our Cherry Hill office is an easy drive from towns across Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties, and our virtual IOP is open to adults anywhere in New Jersey. Clients come to us from: