Poker Psychologist

[GoodOL]

Has anyone here ever employed a psychologist...whith the intent of improving your game (I'm not a casual player, so I am open to anything that can improve my game)? On paper, I know this game inside and out...yet, I have not acheived the results I want (I've made money over the last three years...but, if I factor in opportunity cost, I am way down). I most cetainly have run horrendously, but my play has contributed...and I have been considering investigating tilt with a psychologist. Thanks.....

[DWarrior]

I think Matusow does that, but he's a real nutjob.

[Allinlife]

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I most cetainly have run horrendously

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with this kind of attitude psychologist won't be much of a help. I first suggest you read inside the poker mind.

[McMelchior]

I don't know if you play online or B & M, but if the first is the case you don't necessarily need a psych to deal with tilt. Use a friend/acquaintance to chat/skype with while you play - that should anchor you plenty.

If you have neither use this board to find one.

[bkholdem]

Yes someone here posted about it a within the last 4 months or so. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is what you want.

Have you ever heard of a sports psychologist?

p.s. you can buy CBT workbooks and whatnot as a cheaper introduction.

[AZplayer]

I went through the same process and consulted with Dr. Al and can highly recommend him. He will be honest with you as to whether or not he can help you.

You have to be ready and willing to do some heavy lifting though... PM me if you want or ask in this forum.

[good2cu]

I was a poster who made a post about this 4 months ago. I was never able to find anyone who offered what I was looking for.

[jgca]

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I was never able to find anyone who offered what I was looking for.

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Really? All those ladies didn't help you out any? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[TruFloridaGator]

I think your best bet would be a sport psychologist. Probably the closest related & may be able to help.

[Transference]

Ive toyed with offering some free sessions for the purposes of soliciting feedback in this domain but I am ambivalent. I'm just not sure how helpfull I would be targeting specifically psychological areas of poker and I would have to do some leg work to get up to speed on the most appropriate therapeutic interventions.

If I was to attempt to make a few buck doing this (it would largely be for fun) I would first
A) Write an good article on the viability of psychological intervention for card players
B) Offer about 5 free sessions to credible posters with the condition that they would offer impartial feedback for others to view.

If youd like, I'll offer the opportunity to coax me into putting some time and thought into this.

Things you should know:

I have a M.A. in General Pscyhology.
I am not a liscensed counselor, but I do have specific graduate level training in psychotherapy. I also have traning in research and statistics.
I have experince working with the severely mentally ill.
The application of this is that pragmatic simple short term solutions are the most effective with this population. I imagine this would be efficacious to time limited, results orientated sessions for poker players.
I have played poker as a primary means of support
I havent crushed any game and have not played very high, but I am a winning player over a large sample of hands.


Most likely sessions would be by instant messenger, skype or phone.