July 31, 2024, is the deadline to apply for CFR’s Fall 2024 Postgraduate Certificate Program cohort in Marriage & Family Therapy and Clergy track. Apply here.
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A Q&A About Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy? Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach to therapy that treats the psyche as a unique system of parts that influence each other and the external world. It was developed by Richard Schwartz, a family therapist who observed patients describing themselves in terms of conflicting “parts,” and then…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for October, Tessa Peoples
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Tessa Peoples, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! Why did you decide to become a therapist? I used to think that therapy was for people with problems that were bigger than mine. Then, during a particularly challenging…
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Insights on the Aftermath in Afghanistan
The last troops have left Afghanistan, but our work with the fallout from the longest war in U.S. history continues. At Council for Relationships (CFR) our therapists are continuing to see their veteran and veteran-connected family member clients. We know from our own clients and from other veteran service organizations that many veterans are upset…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for September, Madeline Hoch
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Madeline E. Hoch, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What do you consider to be the goal of therapy? What do you help your clients work towards? I think that therapy can help you learn to understand yourself, your reactions, and…
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Our Athletes Are Coming Home
On July 23, 2021, some of us watched the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The global pandemic pushed the start date back an entire year and forced an experience that was vastly different from all other prior games. Athletes spent years in deep anticipation for these games and now, just 20 days…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for August, David MacFarlane
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is David MacFarlane, MEd. Learn more about him in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? I began my work life as a chemist (!) where I learned a lot about asking the right questions to get…
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Toxic Positivity: It’s Ok to Not Be Ok All of The Time
“Good vibes only.” “Never give up.” “Just keep smiling.” “Look on the bright side.” We’ve heard these phrases time and time again. In times of difficulty, we may be told to “stay positive” and to “count our blessings.” We may tell ourselves that, comparatively, “others have it worse” and that “everything happens for a reason.”…
Read MoreCFR Celebrates Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month. Disability doesn’t discriminate, so every social justice movement has a disability contingent, and the Disability Rights Movement is actually a synthesis of all the other civil rights movements. Every social justice movement needs to include representation of their Disabled members. For example, Disabled LGBTQI+ are calling out Pride celebrations for not…
Read MoreFeatured Therapist for July, Virginia Mittnacht
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Virginia Mittnacht, LSW. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist and as a person? It sounds simple, but I genuinely love connecting with people and their stories. I receive my fuel from outdoor…
Read MoreAn Ode to CFR’s Post Graduate Certificate Program
There is a part of my life in which I am very fortunate: I have a job that I love and, even beyond that, a job that feels like a calling. I am the Director of Council for Relationships’ Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy. As is relatively obvious from the name of the program, our training prepares master’s-level students for…
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Teach Your Children Well
The 2020-2021 school year has officially ended at schools across the country, and we are heading into another season of mixed thoughts and emotions. Just as has been the case in the past year of the COVID pandemic, that will mean different things to different people and families. While we are eager to put the…
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An Open Letter to Naomi Osaka
Dear Naomi, It’s with a heavy heart that I write you this letter because I feel the weight of the emotional pain you must be experiencing. Not only are you carrying the weight of the depression you sometimes feel, but there are also certain people/organizations that are wanting you to carry the weight of their…
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One for the Yearbooks: A Time to Process the End of Another School Year in a Pandemic
We have arrived at the end of another school year in a pandemic. Many of the meaningful traditions we look forward to this time each year may once again not be possible. As many schools move to re-create significant events like graduations and proms in order to follow safety guidelines, they may look and feel…
Read MoreEnding the Stigma Surrounding Bipolar Disorder
How does social stigma surrounding bipolar disorder impact those coping with the illness? As a therapist, I have seen varying responses when people are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some individuals react with shock, worry, or fear, and others with relief and even hope. Some people may wonder if who they are has somehow changed. They…
Read More“My Name is Tiger”: Navigating the Road to Recovery After Acute Injury
Tiger Woods’ road to recovery is just beginning. For many people who have experienced devastating injuries, the stabilization and mitigation of acute injuries is just the beginning. A car accident like the one that Tiger Woods experienced can have long-standing ramifications, some of which could even be lifelong. Although it’s not possible to speculate on…
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Featured Therapist for April, April Piercy
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is April Piercy, PhD, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview! What makes you unique as a therapist? I meet the client where they are. Making the decision to seek therapy can be scary for some and as therapists we…
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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…
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Featured 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…
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