What online LADC counseling is
Online counseling means meeting with a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) by live video instead of in an office. The conversation is the same kind you would have in person: what concerns you about alcohol or other substance use, what you want to change, and what support would help. Minnesota DHS defines telehealth as health care delivered through real-time, two-way audio and video, and says providers are held to the same standards as for in-person services.
Is online counseling a good fit for you?
Telehealth can make it easier to attend sessions if travel, work hours, childcare, or distance get in the way. It tends to work best when you have a private place to talk and a steady internet connection. It may be less suitable if you cannot find privacy at home or if you need a more structured level of care than weekly counseling.
When you contact Radiant, ask whether telehealth seems appropriate for the support you want and what the alternatives are if it does not.
What you need for a session
Radiant's Minnesota telehealth page describes sessions held on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform that works on a phone, tablet, or computer. Before your first appointment, ask how you will receive the session link and what to do if the connection drops.
Choose a place where you can speak freely. A parked car, a room with the door closed, or headphones can all help. Tell your counselor if privacy or reliable internet is a concern so you can plan around it together. Our post on making telehealth therapy feel more private and comfortable has more ideas.
Privacy and confidentiality online
Radiant's telehealth page states that sessions are not recorded. You can also ask where your records are kept and who has access to them. Federal law adds confidentiality rules for many substance use treatment records on top of HIPAA, and your counselor can explain how those apply to you.
It is also worth asking what the plan is if you need urgent help during or between sessions. SAMHSA's telehealth guidance reviews how telehealth is used in substance use and mental health treatment.
Cost and insurance questions
Do not assume a plan is accepted or that a telehealth service is covered. Start with the plan list on Radiant's insurance page; our guide to how insurance works for therapy explains common terms. Ask Radiant to check your specific plan and whether you may have a copay, a deductible, or an authorization requirement.
Making first contact
You can call Radiant or request an appointment online. Keep a first message short: your name, the best way to reach you, and the kind of support you are looking for. Save details about your health for a phone call or your first session, where they are better protected than in an email or web form.
Useful questions for that first contact include whether the counselor is taking new telehealth clients, what times are offered, and what the first session usually covers.
Online counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC
Laura Carlisle is a Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services who serves clients by telehealth. Her profile lists flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend appointments. Read Laura Carlisle's profile and confirm current openings with Radiant. For more on the counseling itself, see substance use counseling in Minnesota.
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
Telehealth and online therapy in Minnesota
How insurance works for therapy
Evening, weekend and same-week appointments
Substance use counseling in Minnesota
Talk with Radiant
Contact Radiant Recovery and Counseling Services to ask about online counseling with Laura Carlisle, LADC, including current telehealth openings.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Online LADC Counseling in Minnesota: What to Expect Is Treatable.You Do Not Have to Keep Managing Alone.
Same-week appointments available in Minnesota and Georgia.
Available statewide across Minnesota and Georgia