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Counseling Resources

The content provided here is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, nor should it replace the consultation of a trained medical or mental health professional.

Explore Resources

Below, you will find mental health resources, including therapeutic mobile apps, drug and alcohol support, and resources for coping with COVID-19, discrimination, hate, and violence. Please note that outside links are not under our control, and we cannot guarantee their content.

For those seeking to connect to off-campus services, please explore this guide to local resources, insurance, and much more!

7 Cups of Tea is a 24/7 emotional support chat, online therapy options, and more.

  • The Steve Fund is dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color.      
  • Therapy for Black Girls offers a therapist locator, group chats, and blog articles to encourage the wellness of Black women and girls.
  • Asians Do Therapy works to reduce stigma about and improve access to therapy with guidance on finding a therapist.
  • Asian Mental Health Collective is a searchable database of Asian therapists serving the U.S. and Canada.
  • Black Virtual Wellness Directory is a searchable database by state: Find a Virtual Black therapist, doula, yoga teacher, mediator, and much more.
  • Inclusive Therapists is a database for people to connect with therapists focused on the needs of marginalized populations, including people of color, the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities.
  • National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a nationwide directory of therapists who identify as Queer and Trans Therapists of Color
  • Active Minds is a nonprofit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking. It is a rapidly growing network of thousands of college students dedicated to create campuses where students feel encouraged to speak openly about mental health and seek help. 
  • The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. Their website also includes other resources relevant for college students. 
  • Our Bodies Ourselves is a global feminist organization that distills and disseminates health information so that the individuals and communities we reach can make informed decisions about health, reproduction, and sexuality.                                                
  • Renfrew Center specializes in the treatment of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and related mental illnesses. Programming comprises a comprehensive range of services, including day treatment, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. 
    • COVID-19 Update: Renfrew Center now has virtual locations throughout the entire country. Check out  this link  to find a location near you. 
  • DBT Crisis Survival Skills is a series of animated instructional videos. 

If you have not opted out of the BMC insurance (UnitedHealthcare) you can login to the UHCSR portal (firststudent.com) to access free online counseling services through Healthiest You.

Note: When you sign up for Healthiest You, make sure you sign up using your insurance UnitedHealthcare ID # so that your sessions are 100 percent covered! Even if you do not have school insurance, telehealth services are available for a fee — go to firststudent.com.

  • LGBTQ Youth Resources in Philly will lead you to several LGBTQ organizations in Philadelphia. 
  • Trans Lifeline is designed for transgender people. The Trans Lifeline is staffed by people who are themselves transgender. U.S. Call: (877) 565-8860, Canada: (877) 330-6366 
  • Inclusive Therapists is a database for people to connect with therapists focused on the needs of marginalized populations, including people of color, the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities.
  • National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a nationwide directory of therapists who identify as Queer and Trans Therapists of Color
  • Trevor Project is a crisis resource for LGBTQIA+ identifying folks. Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-4-uTREVOR (1-866-488-7386)
  • In Acknowledgment of the many recent and upsetting laws and agendas that discriminate against LGBTQIA youth and their families, we want to express our support and solidarity by offering the following resources: 
  • The Queer Texas Crisis Fund is a resource for families of Queer and Trans Youth in Texas, “the QTCF is a joint project by Texas Pride Impact Funds and Equality Texas. The fund was created to raise money during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute to LGBTQ+-serving nonprofit organizations providing emergency relief to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In 2022, we are relaunching this emergency aid campaign to provide families of transgender youth assistance as they navigate the relentless assault by our state leaders.”
  • Zebra Coalition is a Florida-based network of organizations that provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and all youth (LGBTQ+) ages 13 – 24. Zebra Coalition assists young people facing homelessness, bullying, isolation from their families, and physical, sexual, and drug abuse with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability.
  • PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies, with nearly 400 chapters and 250,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America. Find a chapter near you.
  • Trans in the South is a directory of more than 400 Southern health service providers who are trans-affirming. 
  • Transgender Law Center is a national trans-led organization offering legal resources to the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

Below is a selection of mobile apps for your portable devices (iPad, iPhone, Android, tablets, etc.). These are free apps that you can use to supplement your work in therapy or if you are not a client and are just looking for something to help you manage your academic and personal lives. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is a sampling of using technology to improve your physical and mental health.

Music and Sounds (iTunes/Apple)

Music and Sounds (Android)

Meditation, Breathing, and Yoga (iTunes/Apple)

Meditation, Breathing, and Yoga (Android)

Other Apps:

(iTunes)

(Android)

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a country-wide collection of therapists who offer therapy for $30-$60.

There is an ongoing need for support in managing the effects of hate, discrimination, and traumatic events. Below you will find some resources, which may be helpful in processing your thoughts and emotions.  

TELUS Health Students Support Services is free to all currently enrolled students. 

  • Confidential mental health support with a counselor at no cost to you.
  • Speak with a counselor 24/7 via telephone or chat. 
  • Telephone, video, and in-person counseling by appointment for short-term support.
  • Language and lived-experience counselor matching upon request. 
  • Self-directed resources including articles, videos, assessments, virtual fitness, and much more. 

Gender Affirming Care

Whether your are exploring your relationship to gender for the first time, looking for affirming on and off campus resources, interested in seeking gender affirming services, or just looking for caring and supportive spaces to talk and ask questions, we are here for you!

Read on to learn more about the services we provide as well as some helpful resources.

Bryn Mawr Health & Wellness provides a wide range of Gender Affirming Care on campus as well as referral to trusted partners in the community. Below are just some of the services we provide. If you do not see what you are looking for, reach out to Health at bkotarski@brynmawr.edu, Counseling at lmacnamara@brynmawr.edu, or Wellness at OwlWell@brynmawr.edu to talk about your options! Health and Wellness can also be contacted by phone at 610-526-7360.

Counseling Services

  • Affirming counseling support
  • Referrals to trusted community partners 
  • Letters of support for gender affirming surgeries when needed
  • Connections to LGBTQIA+ affirming substance use resources and support

Health Services

  • Contraceptive care across the gender spectrum
    • Discussion of desired goals / outcomes
    • Options exploration
    • Prescription initiation and management
    • Referral to off campus partners as needed
  • Gender Affirming Care navigation appointments
  • Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
    • Referral to a trusted community partner for consultation and initiation of hormone therapy
    • Continuation and support of hormone therapy at Bryn Mawr Health Services
  • Routine sexual and reproductive health screenings (ex: pap smears / gynecological exams, prostate exams, breast / chest exams, etc.)

Wellness Services

  • Contraceptive counseling across the gender spectrum 
    • Discussion of desired goals and outcomes
    • Options exploration
    • Referral to Health Services for initiation and / or management
  • Gender and identity exploration w/ trained staff and peer health educators
  • Educational resources
  • Referral to on and off campus resources

Names, sex assigned at birth, and pronouns are initially entered into a student's electronic health record via information from the Registrar's office. Because a student's name in use, gender identity, or pronouns may be different than those on file with the Registrar, students are able to change these items in their patient portal.

To access the patient portal:

  1. Log into your BMC Webmail / Email for DUO authentication
  2. Open a new tab and visit Medicat Connect
  3. In your patient portal, navigate to "My Profile" to change the desired information

Please note that this does not allow you to update your legal name. If you are pursuing a legal name change, please connect with the Registrar to update your information.

Gender Affirming Clothing
The Wardrobe, formerly know and the Career Wardrobe, is a non-profit dedicated to eliminating clothing insecurity. They provide free and low-cost clothing items along with binders and other gender affirming undergarments.

The Wardrobe
 

Gender Identity and Exploration
Gender Spectrum provides a wide variety of educational resources and tools for individuals exploring their relationship to gender as well as those who seek to be better allies to Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive individuals.

Gender Spectrum


Philadelphia Area Resource Guide
This guide, created by the Mazzoni Center, provides a collection of Trans friendly and gender affirming resources throughout the Philadelphia area. As a note, this guide was created in 2022 and some entries may be out of date. Be sure to contact any service or provider ahead of time to confirm their information!

Philadelphia Gender Affirming Resource Guide
 

Tucking & Binding
Tucking or binding can be one of the many ways individuals choose to express or affirm their gender. While tucking and binding are generally safe practices, there are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you keep your body happy and healthy while doing so!

While tucking or binding may take some getting used to, you should never experience pain. If you are experiencing pain while tucking or binding, make an appointment to see a provider at Health Services for an assessment and check in!

Safer Binding from Community One Foundation

Safer Tucking Guide from Fenway Health

Find a Binder from Healthy Binding

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