Oliver U., MA (he/him)

SCHEDULE with OLIVER

M.A., Community Trauma Counseling, Thomas Jefferson University

B.A., Psychology, Thomas Jefferson University

Supervision: Pre-licensed; supervised toward LPC (details available upon request).

Language: English

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$175 / 50-min session

Accepting new clients

Virtual and In Person

About Me

Hello! My name is Oliver (he/him). Living as a trans person has a unique set of experiences and challenges that have impacted the way I interact with the world and by default, has also impacted how the world interacts with me. My goal and special interest have always been to work with and help other members of the LGBT+ community, as I know the social and political risks that can come with just being ourselves. 

I emphasize and focus on trauma-work with a personal belief that each client should leave a session having processed or learned something about themselves, something for them to contemplate, and something that made the appointment worth coming to.

I take a Health at Every Size approach and specialize in anxiety, bipolar, body dysmorphia, depression, disordered eating, dual diagnosis, gender affirming care, gender dysphoria, relationship concerns, personality disorders, PTSD, sex/intimacy concerns and substance use/addiction. I am a pre-licensed counselor working on obtaining my LPC.

Specialties

Anxiety & depression

Gender dysphoria;
gender-affirming care

Bipolar

Body dysmorphia & disordered eating (HAES-aligned)

Substance use &
addiction

PTSD & trauma

Relationship, sex & intimacy concerns

Personality disorders

Dual diagnoses

Looking for something specific?

Schedule an appointment

Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive, and therapists are always expanding their skill sets.

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Why I Became A Therapist

I was the ā€œtherapist friendā€ growing up. Later, studying behavior, cognition, and memory confirmed I wanted to do this work professionally. Before Arrive, I counseled women in a medical clinic recovering from substance use while navigating homelessness, food insecurity, ongoing trauma, and mental health crises. Those experiences deepened my commitment to non-judgmental, practical, affirming care.

Modalities (at a glance)

  • assessing the main areas of distress or dysfunction and changing how these problems are being cognitively processed by challenging your negative thought patterns, emotions, and behavior to effectively cope with symptoms brought on from mental health conditions

  • expanding your window of tolerance by practicing skills and techniques to manage uncomfortable or upsetting emotions by strengthening your ability to sit in discomfort, cope, accept what is out of your control, and make positive behavioral changes for what IS within your control

  • looking at your life from a birds-eye view to follow patterns of behavior, notice inconsistencies and allow you to see yourself from an ā€œoutsideā€ perspective to inform decision making and encourage self-analysis

  • your autonomy and goals are the main priority in sessions, empowering you to make decisions, bring up topics at your own pace and allowing you to steer the session based on your needs and values

  • exploring your conscious beliefs and feelings while simultaneously analyzing inconsistencies between motivation and behavior to better help you uncover any underlying emotions, memories or believes that may be contributing to cyclical self-sabotaging behavior, unresolving issues and patterns of ā€˜symptom swapping

  • understanding how traumatic experiences have impacted your understanding of the world, the people in it, and how you ā€œfunctionā€ in response to these perceptions

A young person smiling and holding a sunflower in a sunflower field on a sunny day.

Who I Help

LGBTQ+ folx seeking gender-affirming and trauma-informed therapy, including support around navigating todayā€™s political climate.

Teens & adults navigating acute and past trauma or trauma-related disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar, or PTSD

Clients facing body image & disordered eating (HAES-aligned)

People working through body and gender dysphoria, transition-related care, and identity stress

Personality disorders

Relationship, sex and intimacy concerns, substance use, and dual diagnoses

Schedule an appointment

What to Expect (first 1ā€“2 sessions)

A young man sitting on a sofa, smiling and holding a black and white cat in his arms. There is a yellow pillow behind him with a lion logo and the word "HAY". A glass with a clear liquid is in his left hand. A chessboard and a black charging cable are on the ottoman in front of him. The room is well-lit, with a view of the kitchen and a window showing green trees outside.

We get to know each other better to establish a strong foundation comfort and trust

We identify your closest supports (if any), outline your goals and look at why you've sought out therapeutic support

How I Work

  • You are free to be yourself in a space that holds no judgement or scorn towards your identity

  • I believe that, when appropriate, directly acknowledging the sources of discomfort opens up a deeper conversation that's tied to our core-beliefs and any internal dialogue that promotes doubts in our self-worth, self-esteem and confidence

  • Identifying what areas of your life you have control over and working with you to analyze what may be blocking your ability to change them

  • Each client should leave a session having processed or learned something about themselves, something for them to contemplate and something that made the appointment worth coming to

  • Understanding how your trauma has impacted your view of the world and people in it to strengthen your insight and "post-trauma" or "ongoing-trauma" functioning

Looking for something specific?

Let's Figure It Out Together =)
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Availability & Locations Served

Telehealth for clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York (teens with guardian consent as required and adults).

Schedule with Oliver
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Pennsylvania

View of New York City skyline from a park with green grass, trees, and a body of water in the foreground, showing tall skyscrapers under a clear blue sky.

New Jersey

Skyline of New York City with the Empire State Building at sunset, surrounded by various skyscrapers.

New York

Oliverā€™s Book Recommendations

Book cover titled 'The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma' by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., featuring a black silhouette of a person with yellow and green stars around them on a blue background.
Cover of 'The Gender Quest Workbook,' featuring four people standing outdoors, looking at a scenic landscape with trees and blue sky.
Book cover titled 'The Emotional Incest Syndrome: What to Do When a Parent's Love Rules Your Life' by Dr. Patricia Love, with Jo Robinson, featuring a quote about the book's importance.

Oliverā€™s Blog Picks

Resources I often share with clients.

A woman sitting in the driverā€™s seat of a car with a young man beside her, reaching out to touch his arm or shoulder, while the young man is seated in the passenger seat, looking at her. The car interior is modern with a touchscreen display and a panoramic sunroof, and the outside environment shows residential houses and trees.

How to Support Your Trans Child, Part 4: Ask Questions with an
Open Mind

 Practical approaches like narrative work and identity-affirming practices that support safety and self-definition.

Movie poster for 'Everybody', with a purple background, a partial image of a woman's face on the right, and the title 'Everybody' in bold white letters. The poster mentions it is from a director of an Academy Award-nominated film 'RBG' and includes text about the film's themes and release date, June 30.

Every Body: A Feel-good Documentary on Our Community

A clear overview of social, medical, and legal pathways so you can choose what fits your life and timing.

Group of diverse young people celebrating at an LGBTQ+ pride event, holding rainbow flags and wearing pride accessories on outdoor steps.

What is Gender Identity Therapy?

How touch-based care can be made safer and more regulating, plus what to ask a provider.

Two women sit on the sand at the beach, facing the ocean, with a colorful striped backpack beside them.

What are the Ways to Express Gender Identity?

Gentle scripts and tangible support ideas.