GLBT Alcohol Treatment
Millions of gay and lesbian individuals develop alcohol addictions each year. Sadly, only a small percentage of these men and women seek out professional help from an alcohol treatment program – and as a result fall deeper and deeper into the cycle of addiction.
GLBT alcohol treatment programs do not necessarily have to treat gay and lesbian patients exclusively. Rather, a GLBT alcohol program is any program that understands the needs of the gay community and is supportive of, and sympathetic to those needs. In order to provide the appropriate level of care, counselors should be well-versed in GLBT addiction issues and the environment should be a safe and productive one.
Obstacles to GLBT Alcohol Addiction Treatment
There are several obstacles unique to the GLBT community that can keep gay men and women from receiving the proper care for their alcohol addiction. These potential obstacles include:
- A lack of understanding. Mainstream addiction treatment programs may be well-intentioned, but might not understand the issues and root causes behind GLBT alcohol addiction. Counselors may not be well-versed in the issues of depression and anxiety that can plague members of the gay community – and lead to alcohol addiction.
- An uncomfortable setting. Some treatment facilities may not go far enough in terms of providing for the safety of their gay and lesbian patients. There must always be a policy in place to protect the rights of GLBT individuals against hate crimes or other hostile and discriminatory acts inside the facility.
- Geographic location. The best treatment programs for recovering alcoholics in the GLBT community can generally be found in large metropolitan areas. Small towns and rural areas will likely not provide the level of care sought after by gay men and women in need of alcohol treatment.
The Elements of GLBT Alcohol Treatment
There are three core elements involved in GLBT alcohol treatment: detox, counseling and aftercare.
- Alcohol detox. The first, and for many the most challenging, step towards recovery from alcohol addiction, detox helps the individual overcome their physical addiction to alcohol. The GLBT community has no particular unique needs in terms of detox.
- Alcohol counseling. Individual and group counseling make up the lion's share of alcohol treatment. In the case of GLBT individuals, it is important (during one-on-one counseling) to work with a therapist with a background in gay and lesbian addiction. Also, some facilities may provide group sessions specifically for the GLBT patients enrolled in the program.
- Aftercare. Just as the needs of GLBT individuals can be different during rehab, their aftercare programs may differ as well. Because some aspects of the gay or lesbian lifestyle may differ from that of straight community, it is a good idea for GLBT men and women to take part in support groups that are exclusively geared towards them. These may include GLBT 12-step programs and follow-up group counseling with Gay and Lesbian graduates of the alcohol rehab program.
Michael's House offers caring and compassionate alcohol treatment for all their patients. Michael's House is a residential rehab facility located in Palm Springs, California that understands the unique nature of GLBT alcohol addiction. Contact Michael's House today at for more information.
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