For people with substance use disorders in the Boston area who identify as LGBTQ+, an LGBTQ+ friendly rehab in Boston can be a lifeline. These services are staffed with medical professionals attentive to the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community, and clients can find friends and allies as they meet others in recovery.
The Need For LGBTQ-friendly Rehab
Some studies indicate that people who identify as LGBTQ+ are much more likely than people in the general population to struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. Additionally, many LGBTQ+ people face discrimination, bias, and judgment from healthcare providers. This stigma can actually lead to higher rates of depression, isolation, and substance abuse.
LGBTQ-friendly addiction treatment facilities provide safe, open spaces where clients can be honest about their identities and sexual orientations. An affirming environment can increase clients’ self-respect and help provide motivation for recovery.
In fact, treatment programs tailored to their client’s individual needs and identities are some of the most successful at sustaining long-term sobriety. Staff members at LGBTQ+-friendly rehabs receive ongoing training in health and social issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community, and this specialized knowledge helps them provide evidence-based treatment for client needs. This includes privacy and confidentiality; you aren’t required to disclose your sexual orientation to enroll, and your personal information won’t be shared.
How Can LGBTQ-friendly Addiction Treatment Help You?
Like other treatment programs, LGBTQ+-friendly rehabs in Boston begin treatment with a medically supervised detox process and an overall health assessment.
Treatment plans include a range of individual and group therapy options, including trauma-specific therapy and support groups. Group therapy sessions may focus on topics with relevance to LGBTQ+ community members, such as:
- Handling bias and discrimination from the outside world
- Accepting and affirming your gender identity or sexual orientation
- Dealing with homophobia from family members and close friends
- Managing stresses and pressures in healthy ways without using substances
- Addressing and healing from past traumas
In groups, clients meet other LGBTQ+ people in recovery who are going through similar issues, and the group can form strong bonds that last after treatment ends.
Family counseling is available for clients who want their partners or families involved in their treatment. Working with trained facilitators, couples and families learn about communication, boundaries, and ways to offer ongoing support to one another.
Another vital part of LGBTQ+ friendly rehab involves treating co-occurring mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. LGBTQ+ individuals face many challenges, including high rates of mental health conditions. Good addiction treatment programs treat the “whole patient” rather than treating substance abuse in isolation. LGBTQ+ clients who struggle with their mental health will find comprehensive, compassionate treatment, including behavioral therapy and, if needed, medication.
Aftercare or alumni services, another essential component of treatment, keep clients connected to a growing group of LGBTQ+ people committed to recovery and sobriety. This may include referrals to sober living spaces, sober social activities, 12-step meetings, and LGBTQ+-specific support networks outside of the program.
Learn More About LGBTQ-friendly Rehab in Boston
At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we’re committed to providing safe, supportive, and effective LGBTQ+-friendly addiction treatment. Counselors provide affirmation, encouragement, and challenges to help you grow in your recovery. Doctors and medical professionals will work with you on a personalized treatment plan that addresses any co-occurring disorders or concerns you have. And all staff members will respect that your identity and sexual orientation are important, positive aspects of who you are.
Our daytime and evening intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization program ensure you’ll get the support you need at every stage of treatment. Whether you’re new to rehab or have tried sobriety before, we’re ready to help. Contact us at 877.920.6583 to find out more.
