Gus Raymond, MA, NCC, tLMHC, CADC, didn’t set out to become a counselor, but it became clear along the way that this work was where he was meant to be. “Counseling kept calling for me, essentially,” he said. “I resisted at first, but eventually embraced it—especially once I was accepted into the master’s program.” His path began with roles as a peer recovery coach and a family treatment coach before he stepped into a position as a substance use counselor and enrolled in a graduate program in Chicago.

Today, Gus runs his own counseling practice and works under supervision, while also pursuing a PhD in sociology at the University of Iowa. He works with both substance use and mental health counseling, often supporting clients who come from underserved communities. Though many of his clients are youth, he also works with adults, including educators, who have become a growing part of his practice.

Part of what sets Gus apart is his lived experience. He is in long-term recovery himself, which has shaped his decision to focus on addiction counseling. “I know what that destruction feels like, and I wanted to help others with that journey back,” he said. “I know what it feels like to be an ‘other.’ I know what it feels like to have the pain that is associated with that and with substance abuse,” he said. “I try to be a voice and support for those who cannot or do not wish to speak out. I bring those perspectives into my work every session and every day.”

Gus’s approach to counseling has evolved over time. He believes in meeting clients where they are, and in recognizing the real-life struggles they may be facing. “Sometimes, no amount of breathing skills is going to make a bit of difference as to whether they can get food tonight or not.”

His commitment to this work found strong support through the NBCC Foundation’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), which Gus says has been the most rewarding part of his professional journey. “Every Symposium where we can gather again as an MFP family, exchange ideas, support one another, mentor and receive mentorship, it’s priceless. It never stops giving.” The MFP provided him with early opportunities to present nationally, build lasting professional connections, and ultimately pursue a PhD with confidence.

As a current member of the MFP Advisory Council, Gus remains closely connected to the program’s mission. In May, he joined fourteen 2024 Fellows for a 3-day immersive training at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (HBFF) in Rancho Mirage, California. This hands-on experience was made possible through a partnership between NBCC Foundation and HBFF, designed to deepen counselors’ understanding of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery.

“It was a really wonderful and, in many ways, profound experience. The Rancho Mirage complex is astounding and so beautiful. The staff and our leading guide, Joseph, were absolutely warm and welcoming. To be immersed into everything, including small groups with patients, and to have that feel as inviting and welcoming as it did was amazing.”

One of the most meaningful aspects of the training for Gus was the chance to join patients in small group sessions. “They are incredibly well-run and intimate. The group I was in was so welcoming and authentic. I appreciated the way they included me as well.” He also highlighted the benefit of being paired with a patient buddy to gain deeper insight into the treatment process.

Gus saw just how valuable the experience was for the current Fellows. “You really get enveloped by the experience and you get a sense from both the clinical side as well as the patient. That is so important! Especially for students who might not have any or much lived experience to draw from of their own.”

He believes that this kind of immersion is essential for all counselors, regardless of their area of focus, because they also run into addiction concerns in their work. “It is important to both understand it as well as be able to have empathy for it. This experience definitely gives you more perspective if you have never really been close to it before.”

The NBCC Foundation’s partnership with Hazelden Betty Ford supports the growth of Fellows by offering hands-on learning that bridges theory and practice. Gus’s participation reflects the strength and continued impact of both the MFP and the dedication of its community leaders.

As Gus puts it, “Can I go again?”