What does LGBTQIA+-affirming substance use counseling mean?

It means a counselor respects your identity, name, pronouns, relationships, and goals without judgment or assumptions. You can ask how they put that into practice and share only what you are comfortable sharing.

Do I have to talk about my identity in counseling?

No. You decide what is relevant. Some people want to explore how identity, stress, and substance use connect, and others want to focus on something else entirely. An affirming counselor follows your lead.

Can I work on substance use and mental health concerns in the same counseling?

You can ask whether a counselor addresses both and how they coordinate or refer when more support is needed. Laura Carlisle's profile lists dual diagnosis among her focus areas; ask what is appropriate for your situation.

Is affirming substance use counseling available by telehealth in Minnesota?

Laura Carlisle's profile lists telehealth for clients in Minnesota. Contact Radiant to confirm current availability and whether telehealth suits the support you want.

LGBTQIA+ Affirming Substance Use Counseling in Minnesota

Support that starts with respect

Looking for help with alcohol or drug use, or a related concern such as gambling, can bring up uncertainty. You do not need a label for your experience, a recovery goal decided in advance, or an explanation of your identity to deserve respectful care.

What affirming care looks like in practice

LGBTQIA+-affirming care means a counselor respects your identity and relationships, uses the name and pronouns you ask them to use, and makes room for your experiences without assuming what they mean. It also means the counselor does not treat your identity as the problem to be solved.

You can ask how a counselor approaches topics such as coming out, discrimination, and family or community stress, if and when those topics matter to you. Affirming care should not require you to educate the provider or disclose more than you want to.

What substance use counseling can involve

People seek support for many reasons: changing a pattern, reducing harm, exploring mixed feelings, or working on substance use alongside emotional concerns. In Minnesota, substance use disorder services start from understanding a person's needs and planning care around them, and NIDA notes that treatment can involve counseling and other approaches matched to the person.

You and a counselor decide together what matters and what kind of support is appropriate. For an overview of how outpatient counseling and assessments work, see substance use counseling in Minnesota. If mental health concerns are part of the picture, see counseling for co-occurring concerns.

Questions to help you assess fit

A first conversation can help you decide whether you feel heard. Consider asking: "How do you make counseling affirming for LGBTQIA+ clients?" "How do you respond if a client's name, pronouns, or goals change?" "What experience do you have with clients whose substance use is tied to stress about identity or belonging?" "What happens if my needs fall outside your scope?"

It is reasonable to take your time, ask follow-up questions, and keep looking until you find a provider whose approach feels respectful.

Privacy on your terms

You choose what to share and when, including with family members or anyone else involved in your life. A counselor should be able to tell you plainly how your records are protected and when, if ever, information is shared without your say. If you plan to meet by video, you can join from any private place where you feel comfortable speaking freely. Our guide to online LADC counseling in Minnesota covers telehealth privacy in more detail.

Affirming counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC

Laura Carlisle is a Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services. Her profile lists LGBTQIA+ identity and affirmation among her focus areas, alongside addiction and substance use, self-esteem, and identity. Read Laura's provider profile, or learn more about LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy at Radiant.

Taking a next step

If you would like to explore whether this is a fit, contact Radiant and ask your questions before you decide anything. If you want referral information beyond one practice, SAMHSA's National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) at any hour. The call is free and confidential, and help is available in Spanish as well as English.

If you need help right now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or having a medical emergency, call 911. If you are in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services provides outpatient care and is not a crisis service.

Related pages at Radiant Recovery

LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy at Radiant

LGBTQIA+-affirming identity therapy

Substance use counseling in Minnesota

Counseling for co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns

Online LADC counseling in Minnesota: what to expect

Laura Carlisle, LADC

Talk with Radiant

Contact Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services to ask whether affirming counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC, feels like a fit for you.

Call (612) 429-1662 or request an appointment online. Please keep first messages brief and save health details for a call or session.

This page offers general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace care from a licensed professional. Reading it does not create a counselor-client relationship.

LGBTQIA+-Affirming Substance Use Counseling in Minnesota