Substance Use Counseling and Recovery Support in Minnesota

A first step that meets you where you are

You may be wondering about your alcohol or drug use, trying to change a pattern, or supporting someone you care about. Counseling is a place to talk openly, consider what you want to be different, and identify next steps without being reduced to a label. Substance use disorders are treatable, and care can involve counseling, behavioral therapies, medication, or a combination that fits the person, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and SAMHSA.

What outpatient counseling involves

Outpatient counseling generally means meeting with a counselor while you keep living at home and managing work, school, or family responsibilities. Individual sessions can focus on your goals, the situations that make use more likely, coping strategies, and motivation. You do not have to choose a particular recovery pathway before you start.

Outpatient counseling is one level of support, not the only one. A counselor can talk with you about whether a more structured program or a different service would suit you better. Medication for alcohol or opioid use disorder may also be worth discussing with a qualified prescriber.

If substance use tends to show up alongside anxiety, low mood, or trauma-related stress, read about counseling for co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns.

Assessment and referral options in Minnesota

Minnesota's Direct Access option lets a person go directly to a provider they choose for a comprehensive substance use assessment and access to care, without first going through a placing authority. The assessment helps identify needs and inform recommendations. It is not the same thing as a first conversation about whether ongoing individual counseling feels right for you.

When you contact any provider, ask whether they offer the assessment you need or can refer you to a service that does. Minnesota DHS describes substance use disorder services as including an assessment of needs, treatment planning, and interventions.

For referral information beyond a single practice, SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential, and open 24 hours a day at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), in English and Spanish. Our blog also has a practical first-step guide to finding substance use support in Minnesota.

Questions to ask when choosing a counselor

A first conversation is a chance to ask practical questions and notice whether you feel respected. Consider asking: "What experience do you have with concerns like mine?" "How do we set goals and check whether counseling is helping?" "What approaches might we use, and why?" "If I need an assessment, a medication consultation, or a more structured program, how do referrals work?"

Fit also includes whether the counselor listens without judgment, explains options clearly, and makes room for your identity, culture, and lived experience. It is reasonable to ask for a different approach or another referral if care does not feel right.

Substance use counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC

Laura Carlisle is a Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) at Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services. Her profile lists addiction and substance use among her focus areas and Motivational Interviewing among her approaches, a collaborative style that helps people explore their own reasons for change. She meets with clients by telehealth across Minnesota. Read Laura's provider profile, or see what to expect from online LADC counseling.

Privacy, cost, and coverage

Ask how your information is protected before you share details. Substance use counseling records can carry federal confidentiality protections in addition to HIPAA, and a counselor should be able to explain who can see your records and what the limits of confidentiality are. Radiant's privacy policy describes how the practice handles personal information.

For cost, Radiant's insurance page lists the plans the practice works with. Benefits differ from plan to plan, so confirm coverage with both Radiant and your insurer before your first session.

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

Substance use disorder support at Radiant

Addiction treatment in Minnesota

Counseling for co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns

Online LADC counseling in Minnesota: what to expect

Insurance accepted at Radiant

Laura Carlisle, LADC

Talk with Radiant

Contact Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services to ask whether outpatient counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC, may fit what you are looking for.

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.