Over the last 20 years there has been an ever increasing body of knowledge in both understanding and providing treatment to individuals suffering from severe gambling problems. Research in evidence based practice in gambling interventions has emerged and will continue to grow. Still the compulsive gambler remains a mercurial client. Early drop out rates, poor compliance and follow up, remain challenges for their counselors. This presentation covers two topics. The 1st is a review of intervention practice, examining the present body of knowledge for the interventions or combination of interventions that enhance client compliance. Secondly, the presentation will take a more personal look at counselors themselves. What separates an average practitioner from one that truly excels? The tone of the presentation is interactive, with examples of treatment “failures “being presented and discussed. It is the hope that through the knowledge of “when things go wrong”, this leads to a non client blaming process of making the therapy process “go right”.