Mazzoni Center Behavioral Health Services

For LGBTQ+ individuals seeking addiction treatment or outpatient substance abuse support in Philadelphia, finding a recovery center that genuinely understands their lives — not just tolerates their identity — makes a material difference in outcomes. Mazzoni Center has operated as the city's primary LGBTQ+ health and wellness center since 1979, and its outpatient program reflects that institutional depth. This is not a general treatment center with an inclusive branding update; it is a facility structurally designed to serve LGBTQ+ communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, and Deaf or hard-of-hearing clients.

The outpatient program at Mazzoni is embedded within a comprehensive medical center, which means people in recovery have access to integrated care across physical health and behavioral health under one roof. Behavioral health consultants are located within the medical center itself, and an on-site pharmacy supports coordinated treatment for clients whose recovery intersects with medical needs. For people evaluating longer-term recovery options in Philadelphia, that integration is a meaningful structural advantage.

Mazzoni Center's outpatient substance abuse treatment uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as its confirmed clinical method — a structured, skills-focused approach that helps clients identify the connections between thought patterns, emotional responses, and substance use behaviors. CBT is particularly well-suited to outpatient settings because clients can apply what they learn between sessions, reinforcing recovery skills in the context of their real daily lives.

Both individual and group psychotherapy are offered, allowing clients to work through personal history and triggers in a private setting while also building connection with peers in group sessions. For LGBTQ+ individuals and others who may have felt isolated or unseen in recovery communities elsewhere, the group therapy environment at a center like Mazzoni — where the room reflects shared lived experience — carries weight beyond clinical technique. Trauma and PTSD are also treated here, acknowledging that substance use and trauma frequently co-occur and must be addressed together in any serious long-term recovery plan.

Mazzoni Center's outpatient program specifically serves LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with HIV/AIDS, and Deaf or hard-of-hearing clients — three populations that often encounter gaps in culturally competent addiction treatment. Accepting Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, TRICARE, self-pay, and a sliding scale fee structure, the center has built its payment options to reduce financial barriers across different economic circumstances.

The center operates Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Friday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with evening hours during the week making outpatient programming accessible to people who work during the day. A patient portal connects clients to their care between appointments. To learn more about starting the outpatient program at Mazzoni Center, call (215) 563-0652 or visit mazzonicenter.org.

One of the practical realities of planning for long-term recovery is understanding how to pay for it. Mazzoni Center accepts a broad range of payment sources for its outpatient addiction treatment services, including Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, TRICARE, and self-pay. A sliding scale fee option is also available, which adjusts cost based on a client's financial situation — an important feature for people whose recovery is already stretching their resources.

For veterans and active-duty service members, TRICARE acceptance means Mazzoni's LGBTQ+-affirming outpatient program is accessible through military health coverage — a combination that is not universally available across Philadelphia recovery centers. Clients considering Mazzoni are encouraged to contact the center directly at (215) 563-0652 to discuss specific insurance coverage and program availability.