GDSD Live Event: Problem Gambling or Solution Gambling?

Deborah G. Haskins, PhD

Deborah Haskins, PhD, is a retired Counselor Educator (25 years) and received her PhD in Pastoral Counseling (Loyola College, Maryland now Loyola University MD), a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and an Approved Supervisor (MD). Dr. Haskins is an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor-II, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, International Clergy Lay Problem Gambling and Spiritual Outreach, and Master Addictions Counselor. She is President Emeritus (Dec, 2022) of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and is a recognized leader for over 20 years in disordered gambling. Dr. Haskins has trained mental health professionals in the U.S and abroad to understand disordered gambling and provide culturally relevant services. Her expertise and publications include gambling disorders, cultural competency, and social justice attuned mental health/wellness. She assists practitioners and faith and spiritual communities with incorporating “mental health delivery beyond traditional formats. “Her current efforts include equipping faith/spiritual communities to support disordered gambling and homicidal loss/trauma advocacy and trainings, teaching diversity in psychology at Johns Hopkins University, working on a book project on culture and disordered gambling treatment, prevention, and community wellness, and “taking time to smell the flowers.”

Carmela Washington-Harvey, PhD

Carmela Washington-Harvey, PhD, has worked in education, city, county government and private practice for over thirty years as a program analyst, administrator, mental health provider, psychotherapist, and lecturer.

Dr. Washington-Harvey is also nationally certified as a Mental Health Forensic Evaluator and Child Custody Evaluator and works with state, federal and private individuals and agencies to provide Psychological/Social Evaluations, Parenting Evaluations, individual and family counseling, reconciliation therapy and parent instruction. She is also an expert witness in both Family and Dependency Court on child custody matters.

Dr. Washington-Harvey’s private practice includes working with families and individuals that are struggling with issues that include trauma, addiction (e.g., gambling, sexual), dysfunctional behavior, ADHD, ADD to diminish/extinguish the effects of said behavior on individual self-esteem and restore or move towards increased awareness and individual empowerment.