Tom Doshan, PhD
Licensed Psychologist and Former Compulsive Gambler
Dr.
Doshan is a psychologist who ironically became addicted
to gambling as he was pursuing his Ph.D. later in life
(early 40's). While at the University of Iowa, he found
a racetrack in nearby Quad Cities and became addicted to
horse racing. Returning to Minneapolis in 1984, still
needing to complete his dissertation and pass the
psychologist licensing exam, he began to study
thoroughbred handicapping books to be ready for the
opening of Canterbury Downs in the spring of 1985. Four
years later, amidst the threat of foreclosure on his
condominium and strained personal relationships, he quit
gambling.
Dr.
Doshan began attending Gambler's Anonymous meetings at
that time and continued with weekly meetings for the
next five years. He didn't believe that he needed to
attend meetings for the rest of his life in order to
remain abstinent (which is true 17 years later). Dr.
Doshan also believed that 1) many people don't really
understand the Twelve Steps espoused by Gambler's
Anonymous and, 2) psychologists must have learned
something new about addictions since the Twelve Steps
were written over a half-century ago.
Soon
after quitting gambling, Dr. Doshan began studying the
addiction literature voraciously culminating in the
Fifteen Principles of Gamblers'Alternatives being
published in 1993. He also developed a treatment manual
at that time.
The
experience of treating compulsive gamblers over the next
decade resulted in the view that the principles needed
to be simplified. The new Eight Principles of Gamblers' Alternatives were published in 2004 and the revised
treatment manual in 2006.
