Free Yourself Program

For four years I fought the battle of a severe gambling addiction. I spent hours/month/years in intense conversations (counselling, psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy) to find out “why” I did what I did. I re-lived childhood experiences, analysed feelings towards my parents and discovered hidden self-esteem problems. You name it and we discussed it. Did I stop gambling? No, but I was able to collect a few excuses, as to why I couldn’t.

I also went to a few “Gambling Anonymous” meetings. I’ve met a lot of people who, on a sliding scale of misery, surpassed me by miles. I just couldn’t buy into their group-philosophy. I couldn’t take on the inflexible part in my life’s play that meant “Once a gambler – Always a gambler”. I was certain that I was dealing with a behavioural problem not a genetic identity mix-up. While I was desperate to find a solution I lost our family savings, almost my marriage, two jobs and more than once I’ve contemplated suicide.

I noticed that gambling had a noticeable effect on my physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing. So eventually I took steps to improve my physical well being by diet and exercise. I implemented some drastic re-thinking strategies (that I learned by studying Neuro-Linguistic-Programming). The final step in my freedom from my gambling addiction was the inner peace that I achieved through prayer, meditation and my devotion to God.

This holistic approach enabled me to free myself from my own gambling addiction and led to the development of the Free Yourself Program.

The Reverend Tim Costello officially launched The Free Yourself Program on the 30 of October 1997. In 1997 I then began counselling other gambling addicts and achieved some remarkable results. Many of my clients were desperate to be rid of their addiction and I was able to give them hands-on strategies to regain control in their own struggle with the “gambling beast”. In the process I have continually refined my approach to dealing with gambling addiction and on the 20 March 2000 the first “Self-Help-Kit” (the Free Yourself Program Audiotape and book) was launched.

I am now a very accomplished speaker and regularly present my story and “The Free Yourself Program” to many community groups, schools and clubs. I have also appeared many times on national television, radio and have been featured in many newspapers and magazine articles. I have also appeared before the courts as an “expert witness” in cases involving gambling issues.

When I was at the bottom of the “gambling-addiction pit” I desperately wanted to hear a story of somebody who made it out and who was able to share with me “how he or she escaped”. I would love to make a difference in more people’s lives that is why I am sharing my story.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the free yourself program can contact:

Gabriela Byrne
19 Kruses Rd
Warrandyte 3113
Victoria
Tel: 0414 844 387

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