Ep.14 Addiction Treatment: Trans & LGBQ+ support

In this episode, Gus Raymond advocates for better support for the trans and LGBTQ+ community accessing health services and addiction treatment. Being trans himself and working as a consultant, he has a message about counseling ethics that all addiction professionals should hear. Gus also has a message for LGBTQ+ individuals wanting help with addiction. Topics discussed in this episode 🟣Gus's 10 year transition story and career journey from Chef to Counselor 🟣Experience as a trans clinician in rural Iowa 🟣 LGBTQ+ Consultation Service to educate how to offer better services 🟣Challenges transcommunity faces accessing care for addiction and healthcare 🟣Personal story of discrimination accessing healthcare 🟣Inequality of access to testosterone for cisgender and transgender 🟣Skipping healthcare treatment to avoid local discrimination 🟣Healthcare professionals need to face the truth vs accepting myths that, "we don't have these people here." 🟣LGBTQ+ hiding in the shadows while dealing with recovery issues to avoid discrimination in group therapy 🟣Counselor ethics - doing harm by referring LBGBTQ patients 🟣Speaking at the NAADAC Annual Conference 🟣American Counseling Assocation Florida conference controversy 🟣Improving inclusiveness in a way that is consultative rather than a burden 🟣Iowa teenagers using high THC vape pens 🟣Trauma, addiction, and harm reduction 🟣With harm reduction, you elliminate the concept of shame, stop blame and step down addiction. 🟣What addiction professionals can do to better serve the LGBTQ+ community 🟣A profound lesson from the Iowa floods and outpouring of community behavior 🟣Every addiction professional should be a safe person. 🟣Layers of safety concerns for LGBTQ+ people in addiction recovery 🟣Need or inclusive and affirming spaces in rural areas 🟣Gus's message for clinicians 🟣Gus's message to LGBTQ+ individuals wanting help with addiction Addiction Podcast Guest: Gus Raymond is the Presenter, Clinician, Consultant and Founder of Founder of A. Raymond Clinical & Consulting. A. Raymond Clinical & Consulting website https://www.araymondllc.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gus-raymo... Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... He is an Associate Mental Health Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and National Certified Counselor. He is a speaker and consultant for Trans and LGBTQIA2S+. He believes that self-care is activism, but he also dedicates time to helping others through activism by being a NALGAP Board Member, which is the The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies NAADAC LGBTQIA2S Committee Member, which is The Association for Addiction Professionals NBCC Foundation MFP Advisory Council & Mentor, which is the National Board for Certified Counselors GLSEN Educator Advisory Council Member, which is a group that works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Gus's message to LGBTQ+ individuals wanting help with addiction "There are clinicians like me that are out here and sometimes you have to do a little bit of that extra research to find us, but we're here and anyone is welcome to contact me and I will help find a referral. I want to make sure that they recognize they're not alone And that there are services and folks that will help." Addiction Podcast Host:⁠Chris Langley⁠, Co-Founder | ⁠Addiction Recovery Place⁠