Frequently Asked Questions

Shoot us an email from our Contact Page. We will be in touch within 24 hours at your preferred method of contact. You will be scheduled to chat with Alexander Stefanini, our founder, who will ask a few questions in order to match you with the right LGBTQ therapist in the practice. You can schedule your first appointment right over the phone.

Our founder, Alexander Stefanini will call you and ask a few questions in order to match you with the right therapist in the practice. You can schedule your first appointment right over the phone.

Absolutely. We work at the intersection of gender and mental health. Everyone on our team has received traditional training in comprehensive mental health support and social work. This means we can help you with any mental health problems you want to discuss in therapy, in addition to any gender-related concerns you may have. Find out more on our Mental Health page.

We treat:

Anxiety and Depression

Trauma or PTSD

OCD

Bipolar Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Eating Disorders

Autism and ADHD

Relationship Issues

Family Issues

and more…

We are located in the sunny suburb of Paoli, PA, right on the Mainline.

30 S. Valley Rd, Paoli, PA 19301

We offer both online and in-person sessions. We encourage you to choose the method you prefer to see us however you are most comfortable.

We can see you in person in Pennsylvania in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia, and online anywhere in the states of PA, NJ or NY.

Yes! We offer hours that work for you.

No. However, we offer information here on how to submit your therapy receipts to your insurance for reimbursement.

Yes! We are more than happy to provide a letter. We can provide the letter within a single 90-minute assessment session. We operate on an informed consent approach, meaning once you're deemed able to consent, we'll write your surgery letter.

Yes! You can see photos of our cozy office at the bottom of our home page.

Gender-affirming care is a range of services that support and affirm a person's gender identity rather than trying to ‘fix it. Gender affirming care can include social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions. It can also include mental health care, medical care, and social services.

Gender-affirming care can help transgender people align their emotional, interpersonal, and biological lives with their gender identity. It can also improve all areas of life for a trans person. Getting necessary gender-affirming care drastically reduces levels of anxiety and depression, and improves body image.

Providers of gender affirming care are mental health providers, medical doctors and surgeons, and hair removal specialists. Visit our Resources page to find recommendations for gender-friendly providers in the Philadelphia region and nationally.

Affirmative therapy is a type of counseling used to validate and advocate for the needs of trans, queer, and gay clients. Therapists use verbal and nonverbal means to demonstrate an affirming stance toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) clients.

Queer therapy, or queer affirmative therapy, offers a space to explore your emotions, challenges, and relationships without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. It allows you to process the impact of societal pressures and discrimination, untangle bottled up feelings, and navigate the complexities of identity with self-compassion.

We recommend starting with a trained therapist, to help you learn more about yourself. It is possible to uncover things you never knew about yourself in the therapeutic setting. Our therapists have been there themselves, and are well trained to support whatever comes up in session with a kind and empathetic ear.

Once you have a good idea of what you want, our counselors have all the connections and wisdom from lived experience that you need to help you take the next steps, be it HRT, social transitioning, or surgery.

We also provide a rich library of resources here on the site, which can help you find ways to alleviate dysphoria in the immediate term, as well as sourcing for doctors, surgeons, laser hair removal, and a wide range of social supports to ensure you are never alone on your journey.

Yes, our counselors can help you explore gender concerns and find ways to lessen gender dysphoria and improve your psychological well being. We provide support and guidance to help you explore and integrate your gender identity, accept yourself, and address the mental and emotional impacts of prejudice and discrimination. We will also provide information, answer questions, and tackle the difficult issues around your body image. They will also help you consider the consequences of gender change without encouraging or discouraging you from making a life-changing decision.

Yes! Every one of our therapists is either LGBTQIA+ themselves, or are the parent of someone who is. Each one of us has been up against the same stress, stigma, confusion and shame. We are here to help you through this without judgement and with a lot of empathy for where you are.

Arrive is a counseling practice that prioritizes the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQ population because we are members of the community ourselves. We, too, have suffered shame, confusion, stress and stigma, and we have emerged on the other side as strong, happy, and fulfilled humans, thanks to support from our friends, families and therapists. We want to provide that relief to as many folks who are currently suffering as we possibly can. There is a path towards loving yourself and growing emotionally which can lead you to freedom. We are here to show you it is possible.

Therapy at Arrive might include individual, couples, family or group counseling to help you: learn more about and begin to integrate your gender identity, learn to accept yourself, and address the emotional impacts of stress that results from prejudice and discrimination because of your gender identity.

Yes, very much so. Not only are we gender-affirming, we are a safe space for ALL humans. It is no coincidence that being kind, welcoming, and respectful is good for everyone. We welcome all identities, all neuro-divergencies and all cultures here.

No. Our therapists are trained to listen closely to your child, and evaluate them with no agenda. We do not push or encourage a teen to identify as trans. We work with parents to make sure they are part of the counseling process and their teens' gender exploration.

Yes. It is to give trans and gay people a safe place to be themselves, explore their inner lives, and find ways to cope with the stress of life. As trans and queer people ourselves, our agenda is to support our community in the way we would like to be supported.

Gender dysphoria is defined by severe or persistent distress associated with an incongruence between one's gender identity and biological sex. It is estimated that 1.4 million Americans and 25 million people worldwide identify as transgender and that 0.6% of Americans experience gender dysphoria.

Yes. We specialize in support for families. That can mean individual appointments with each family member, and then group appointments as necessary. Our focus is on the whole person, and that means their families are a crucial piece of the puzzle. We can also see parents individually on an ongoing basis, as needed.

Absolutely. We are incredibly lucky to have such a large and diverse community, and we truly welcome all of you. We have LGBTQ therapists of most every experience and identity who you can choose to work with.

Our goal is to create a comfortable space for any member of our community who needs support.

Yes, we are experts in the LGBTQ space. Our owner and staff have years of experience in therapeutic practice working in the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, we each have our own lived experience as LGBTQ folks ourselves.

Our owner and staff give regular trainings to other mental health practitioners and counselors throughout the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delmarva region, and are considered experts by their peers.

Yes, we are sensitive to and interested in your viewpoint and your intersectional identities. You are unique, and bring your special voice to therapy. Our therapists are trained in cultural sensitivity, non judgemental listening, and trauma-informed therapy. You can also check out the Team page to learn more about each therapist’s identity to find one that you think will understand you best.

Absolutely. These concerns are our primary focus. Not only have we experienced the same emotions ourselves, we are experts in the LGBTQ space. Our owner and staff have years of experience in therapeutic practice working in the LGBTQIA+ community and are trained and licensed in general mental health and social work.

Yes, you can visit our Resources page for connections to Emergency Hotlines, a list of National Allies, Trans Resources for clothing, makeup, hair, HRT, Health and Wellness, links to doctors, specialists, and trans affirming care, resources for Older LGBTQ Folks, Community Connections to local Philadelphia and Mainline queer culture, NeuroDiversity resources, Books to read by and for LGBTQIA+ friends, and awesome Media sources who cover issues we care about and make our lives more fun.

Listen and Learn:

• Be an open ear: Let them know you're there to listen without judgment. This can be a huge weight off their shoulders.

• Ask questions respectfully: If you're unsure about something, ask! But be mindful of questions that are too personal. Let them guide the conversation.

• Educate yourself: We have many resources available to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community.

Be Respectful and Inclusive:

• Use their preferred pronouns: This is a simple but important way to show you care. If you're unsure, ask politely.

• Don't assume their sexuality or gender identity: Everyone's experience is unique.

• Avoid stereotypes and assumptions: LGBTQ+ people are just as diverse as any other population group.

Offer Support and Acceptance:

• Let them know you love and accept them: This may seem obvious, but hearing it can mean a lot.

• Be an ally: Stand up for them if they face discrimination or prejudice.

• Celebrate their identity: Show you're happy for them!

It is unfortunate, scary and sad, but people who are denied or have no access to gender affirming treatments can become anxious, depressed, socially withdrawn and suicidal.

Absolutely. We work at the intersection of gender and mental health. Everyone on our team has received traditional training in comprehensive mental health support and social work. This means we can help you with any mental health problems you want to discuss in therapy, in addition to any gender-related concerns you may have.

We treat:

• Anxiety and Depression

• Trauma or PTSD

• OCD

• Bipolar Disorder

• Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Eating Disorders

• Autism and ADHD

• Relationship Issues

• Family Issues

• and more…

Yes! We specialize in support for families. That can mean individual appointments with each family member, and then group appointments as necessary. Our focus is on the whole person, and that means families are a crucial piece of the puzzle. We can also see parents individually on an ongoing basis, as needed.

We are here to help with stress, anxiety, depression, and any other distress you’re feeling. We offer attentive listening, constructive tips and tricks for helping you understand your emotions, and a safe space to be your full self. Our ultimate goal is to help you feel better in your skin and offer hope and love in your life journey.

Yes we do. Therapists at Arrive work with well-researched modalities such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy), and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) to name a few.

Absolutely. We are sensitive to and interested in your viewpoint and your intersectional identities. You are unique, and bring your special voice to therapy. Our therapists are trained in cultural sensitivity, non judgemental listening, and trauma informed therapy. You can also check out the Team page to learn more about each therapist’s identity to find one that will understand you best.

Your first appointment at Arrive is 90 minutes and is a full bio-psy-social evaluation. Right from the start, we want to dive in and get a really good idea of what areas of your life and wellness you want to improve and what things are going well.

After the first appointment, your therapist will typically have enough information to create treatment goals for your therapy. These will change over time as you grow and change.