I Have No Excuse to Feel This Bad!
How many times over the past year have you heard (or uttered to yourself) something along the lines of “I know other people have it so much worse than me, so I really have no excuse to feel this bad?” Or maybe you’ve thought, “I’ve been so lucky, but I still can’t deal with this. What would I do…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for March, Carla Krash
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Carla Krash, LSW, MSS, MFA. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? I have been an artist/designer my entire life, exploring creative ways to use a variety of materials in the objects I create. A…
Read MoreHelp for Young Adults with Autism and Their Families
Having been around autistic young people since my youngest son was born with the disorder nearly 20 years ago, I recently began conducting small social groups for young men with autism. Our goals are simple: to provide a safe space for young adults with social emotional deficits to gather weekly with each other, practice listening…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for February, Margot Stein
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Margot Stein, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and person; what drew you to counseling as a career? I came to Council for Relationships’ Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and…
Read MoreWhat is Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry?
In addition to my training in General Adult Psychiatry, I am also board certified in Consultation-Liaison (C-L) Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and practice on the medical-surgical wards at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. When I tell friends, family, or clients that I am specialty trained in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, it…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for January, Eric Devon
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Eric Devon, MD. Learn more about him in the below interview! What do you consider to be the goal of therapy? What do you help your clients work towards? I believe that the highest goal of therapy is to understand oneself…
Read More5 Ways to Say Goodbye to 2020
When Twitter recently asked folks to describe 2020 in one word, the responses flooded in. Here are some of the words that stood out to me: Restless. Pain. Sourdough. Masks. Ouch. Skip. Tired. Damaged. Delete. While I was scrolling through the responses, I could feel the collective sigh over the pain folks have experienced this…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for December, Jamie Rose
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Jamie Rose, MAC, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? I’m not sure it makes me unique, but whenever I’m asked a question like this, I literally cringe!…
Read MoreShifting Perspectives: Confusion as The New Norm Part II – Being Open to Experience and Self-Regulation
Ann Masten, a renowned professor and researcher on resilience, has written volumes on this topic. She documented Post-Traumatic Growth and the reality that some people actually improve their functioning after traumatic and challenging experiences. There is something about engaging in responding to adversity that seems to mobilize some individuals, and they come away feeling stronger…
Read MoreShifting Perspectives: Confusion as The New Norm Part I – Tragic Optimism, Post-Traumatic Growth, and Grief
In conversations with clients, friends, and colleagues, and in the materials I have read from numerous mental health sources, the word “surreal” is often used to describe the feeling of this time when we are living through the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, it feels as if we are living someone else’s life – in someone…
Read MoreExperiencing the Holidays: COVID-19 Edition
Is it just me or do other people also feel a bit of tension during the holiday season? The food and festivities are great, but at different times between November 1st and January 2nd there are some stressful, not-so-fun times. Between work, family, and friends we are pulled in many directions and most of us…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for November, Ayo Akindumila
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Ayo Akindumila, LMFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? You can think of me as “the therapist next door” or “the therapist from the block,” or really any…
Read MoreHonoring Our Veterans in 2020
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11th. It is a day set aside to honor all those who have served our country in any of its wars. Unlike Memorial Day, which is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, Veterans Day is, “a celebration to honor America’s veterans for…
Read MoreHonoring Visibility During Disability History Month & Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is Disability History Month, but it is now more widely celebrated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This month marks a celebration of the contributions of Disabled People throughout history. This year marks not only the 75th observance of NDEAM, but also the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However,…
Read MoreHow to Talk to Loved Ones with Differing Political Opinions
As the 2020 presidential election draws near, and during a time when the world seems more divided than ever, families may experience an uptick in challenging and stressful conversations. Often, when families gather together, politics become a topic many shy away from. This, in part, may result from the uncomfortable emotional toll these conversations can…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for October, Asia McNeil
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Asia McNeil, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What would your clients say about you? Many of my clients would say that I am a bubbly, kind, and supportive person who values the joining process. I make…
Read MoreHelping Couples Thrive During COVID-19: How Affection and Desire Eases Fear
The pandemic is creating unique challenges for couples, even those with happy relationships. What does it mean to thrive during difficult and fearful times? With so much uncertainty as we watch and hear about the numbers of people whose lives are at stake, and many others who have been lost to COVID-19, fear is expressed…
Read MoreThe Transition Back to School
September brings with it the realization that we are still living within the confines of COVID-19 restrictions. As families transition into this new school year, it’s a reminder of how challenging this “new normal” can be for children and parents. It’s a parent’s role to help children manage their stress; This can be especially difficult…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for September, Abby Bronstein
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Abby Bronstein, LSW, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? I have lived in Philadelphia for almost 20 years, in several neighborhoods. During that time, I’ve seen…
Read MoreThe Family – And Now the Nation – That Howls Together
On April 23, while watching the PBS News Hour’s coverage of – what else – our nation’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, I received a delightful surprise at the close of the program. The scene moved to Missoula, Montana, where they filmed local residents on their front porches, all howling in unison. Some families even…
Read MoreChallenging Faith: Turning Towards Your Higher Power Through Uncertain Times
Faith, spirituality, and religion play a significant role in how people progress through life and how they deal with hardship or uncertainty. I have worked with many clients from different spiritual and religious backgrounds, and faith looks different for each individual. Some people are clear on where their faith lies, while other people may be…
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