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Birth Trauma: A Story of Survival, Vulnerability & Healing
When a friend, Lauren, shared this with me, it captured the profound disorientation and grief that can follow a traumatic birth, especially when a carefully prepared birth plan goes awry. With her permission, I’ve woven parts of her prenatal, birth, and postpartum journey into this post, highlighting her struggle with postpartum depression to honor her…
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Mental Health Care for Women in 2025
In 2025, mental health care for women remains a critical public health issue—especially for those whose daily life is shaped by systemic inequality, trauma, or discrimination. At Council for Relationships (CFR), we believe effective care must be rooted in intersectionality and mental health, recognizing how overlapping identities affect access, outcomes, and the emotional weight women…
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Using Mindfulness to Evaluate Your Relationship with Social Media
Mindfulness is the practice of noticing what is happening within and around you in the present moment. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can apply mindful social media use to better understand your feelings, needs, and habits. This blog invites readers to pause, reflect, and decide if their online time is helping or hurting…
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Expert Couples and Individual Therapy in Philadelphia with Hannah
When you’re looking for a mental health professional, you want someone who offers expert guidance, understands your unique experiences, and helps you achieve meaningful, lasting results. With Hannah Reiss, MFT, you gain access to highly specialized care in both individual therapy in Philadelphia and couples therapy in Philadelphia, tailored to your needs, concerns, and goals….
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EMDR Therapy for Sexual Assault and Negative Cognitions
Sexual assault is a deeply traumatic experience that can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. Survivors often carry invisible wounds that affect their daily lives, relationships, and sense of safety. While every survivor’s journey is unique, many grapple with mental health challenges in the aftermath of trauma—challenges that can feel overwhelming and isolating. Fortunately, healing…
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Holocaust Remembrance & the Legacy of Intergenerational Trauma
The government of Israel established Yom HaShoah as a day of Holocaust remembrance to honor the six million Jews and five million others who perished in the Holocaust—an event whose legacy of intergenerational trauma continues to shape survivors’ families today. The Israeli Parliament passed a law in 1953 to inaugurate Yom HaShoah as a public…
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Supporting Transgender Mental Health Through Gender Affirming Care
Visibility empowers transgender and nonbinary people. Honoring trans lives means recognizing their resilience and lived experiences, while also advocating for essential support like gender affirming care and transgender mental health services. Although Pride Month and other LGBTQ+ observances often lead national conversations, trans visibility deserves its own spotlight, especially when access to care is on…
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Mental Health Stigma & Cultural Competence in the Middle East
Mental health remains a difficult topic in many Middle Eastern communities, where values such as strength, privacy, and honor often discourage open emotional expression. As a result, mental health stigma is widespread, making it harder for individuals to seek help without shame or fear of judgment. Healing begins when clients find therapy that reflects cultural…
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Managing Anxiety & Mental and Physical Health Tips
CFR Staff Therapist Meghan Rydzewski understands that managing anxiety during periods of uncertainty can be difficult, especially when trying to balance both mental and physical health. She emphasizes the importance of grounding oneself through intentional self-care routines. These routines offer control over aspects of daily life, creating a stable foundation when life feels unpredictable. Read…
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Exploring Men’s Mental Health Through IFS Therapy
Many men feel pressure to be providers, leaders, and stoic figures of strength. In her latest blog, CFR Staff Therapist Kelly Davis shares how Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS therapy) offers powerful tools to support men’s mental health. Through the story of a fictional client, Kelly reveals how therapy can help men untangle complex emotions and…
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Minority Stress & LGBTQ+ Mental Health: What to Know
At Council for Relationships, we believe representation, visibility, and affirmation are essential to LGBTQ+ mental health. In this blog, Clinical Intern Kathy O’Hearn—a master’s student at Thomas Jefferson University and a recipient of CFR’s Diversity Scholarship for Emerging Clinicians—shares her reflections on what it means to live authentically as a member of the LGBTQ+ community…
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Transgender Day of Visibility: How Support Creates Safer, Stronger Communities
Every year on March 31st, the LGBTQ+ community and our allies come together to observe Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) serves to recognize the resilience of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming (GNC) individuals throughout history. It is a day for celebrating transgender joy and achievements along with acknowledging the discrimination and…
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Emily Mudd: Celebrating the Founder of Council for Relationships | Part Three
Women’s mental health has remained central to Council for Relationships since Dr. Emily Mudd founded the organization nearly a century ago. Dr. Mudd’s groundbreaking efforts transformed society’s views on women’s roles, reproductive health, marriage, and family life. Her legacy thrives today through CFR’s ongoing commitment to addressing modern challenges in women’s mental health, family planning,…
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Trauma Informed Therapist Reid Cilley Helps Clients Heal and Grow
Meet Reid Cilley, MFT: A Trauma Informed Therapist Centered on You When you’re searching for a trauma informed therapist, you deserve someone who listens without judgment and adapts to your individual pace. At Council for Relationships, Marriage and Family Therapist Reid Cilley (he/they) brings compassion, curiosity, and professionalism to their work with individuals, couples, teens,…
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Emily Mudd: Celebrating the Founder of Council for Relationships | Part Two
To understand the history of marriage counseling requires an understanding of the contributions made by Dr. Emily Hartshorne Mudd. So, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, we continue our exploration of Dr. Mudd’s groundbreaking contributions to women’s mental health and relationship equity. Before founding the Marriage Council of Philadelphia—now known as Council for Relationships—Dr. Emily…
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Emily Mudd: Celebrating the Founder of Council for Relationships | Part One
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us reflect on the work of Dr. Emily Hartshorne Mudd. She was a visionary in women’s mental health who championed relationship equity when women’s voices were often dismissed. In 1932, Dr. Mudd established the Marriage Council of Philadelphia, now known as the Council for Relationships. This was one…
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Trauma Responses & Community Violence: Why the Brain Reacts the Way It Does
Davina Scott, a Clinical Intern at Council for Relationships and a student at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the profound effects of community violence on mental health. In this blog, she examines how trauma responses influence the behavior, decision-making, and coping skills of those who have experienced violence. By understanding these responses, communities can develop…
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Meet Kelly Davis, Esq., LSW: Bridging Law, Advocacy, and Therapy
For some therapists, the path to mental health care is clear from the start. For others, like Kelly Davis, Esq., LSW, it’s a journey shaped by experience, personal growth, and a deep commitment to advocacy. Kelly’s background as a lawyer and nonprofit executive informs her structured, empathetic therapy approach, making her a unique and impactful…
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5 Tips to Reverse Seasonal Depression
As the days grow shorter and temperatures decrease, many individuals notice a change in their mood. This phenomenon is commonly known as the “winter blues.” For some, these feelings can develop into a more serious form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you’re feeling down during the colder months, you’re not alone….
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025
International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This day serves as a reminder of the terrible events that took place during the Holocaust. This year’s theme, “For a Better Future,” encourages us to reflect and take action. We honor the memory of Holocaust victims and face…
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Top Mental Health Tips for 2025
As the new year begins, many of us think about resolutions to improve our lives. While goals like eating healthier or saving money are common, it’s equally important to focus on your mental health. Taking small, intentional steps to care for your emotional well-being can set the tone for a more balanced and fulfilling year….
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