Self-Exclusion as a Recovery Support Tool: Helping Clients Navigate Illinois Voluntary Exclusion Program

Self-exclusion can be a valuable recovery support strategy for individuals experiencing gambling-related harm. This training provides counselors, therapists, social workers, peer support specialists, and other behavioral health professionals with an overview of Illinois’ Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSEP) and its role within a comprehensive treatment and recovery plan.

Participants will learn how the program works, eligibility requirements, enrollment processes, benefits and limitations, and practical strategies for discussing self-exclusion with clients. The training will also explore ways to integrate self-exclusion into individualized recovery planning to reduce access to gambling opportunities and support long-term recovery goals.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the purpose, eligibility requirements, and enrollment process of Illinois’ Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSEP).
• Explain the role of self-exclusion as a recovery support and harm reduction strategy for individuals experiencing gambling-related harm.
• Evaluate the benefits, limitations, and appropriateness of self-exclusion based on a client’s unique treatment and recovery needs.
• Apply practical strategies to educate clients about self-exclusion and incorporate it into treatment planning, relapse prevention, and recovery support services.