The original ‘Circles Concept of (Gambling) Addiction’ was developed by Harry Mayr in 1982, while working as an addictions counsellor in a community-based health centre. It has always been a ‘user friendly’ concept … applicable and understood by people from all cultures, across all ages, and with or without an addiction issue. Years later, people have informed Mr Mayr how they still remember ‘those circles’, and how the concept helped them.
The ‘Circles Concept of (Gambling) Addiction’ is therefore a concept remembered as much for its visual cues as its verbal explanation – and thus applicable across languages, cognitive and literacy levels, and ages. Unlike most other problem gambling material, it relies on visual recognition rather than words, and seemingly therefore tends to be remembered more.
Since its creation, the ‘Circles Concept of (Gambling) Addiction’ has been used extensively by Mr Mayr in his educational, therapeutic and community development work