Are you and your partner or partners satisfied with the current state of your relationship? Learn more about our $99 Relationship Checkup.

Category » LGBTQ

A vintage television displays a glitched screen with the words “LGBTQ Youth Mental Health and the Role of Trusted Adults” in pixelated blue text. Behind the static effect, a child holds a rainbow pride flag outdoors. The Council for Relationships logo appears in white in the bottom right corner.

LGBTQ Youth Mental Health & the Role of Trusted Adults

June 4, 2025

Americans live in a time of growing societal rifts. One significant divide is how society treats and views members of the LGBTQ community. The people most harmed by the backlash…

Read More
Smiling young person with short hair stands against a white brick wall. Text reads: "Transgender Mental Health – Gender Affirming Care. A new blog by Sarah Bowman & Charlotte Fitterman. Council for Relationships."

Supporting Transgender Mental Health Through Gender Affirming Care

April 17, 2025
and

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…

Read More
Two people stand close together, one hugging the other from behind in a comforting embrace. The text on the image reads: “Minority Stress & LGBTQ+ Mental Health – A New Blog by Kathy O’Hearn.” The background is purple, with white and teal text, and the Council for Relationships logo appears at the bottom.

Minority Stress & LGBTQ+ Mental Health: What to Know

April 2, 2025

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…

Read More
Illustration of a pink anatomical heart outlined in blue on a textured cream background. Above the heart, text reads: “Transgender Day of Visibility – How support creates safer, stronger communities.” Below the heart, it says: “New blog by Reid Cilley, MFT.” The Council for Relationships logo appears at the bottom. The image uses purple and blue tones to evoke empathy and care.

Transgender Day of Visibility: How Support Creates Safer, Stronger Communities

March 31, 2025

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…

Read More
Council for Relationships graphic for National Coming Out Day. Text reads: 'National Coming Out Day: Embracing Identity & Mental Health,' by Reid Cilley, MFT. Background shows an empty closet with light-colored walls, symbolizing the coming-out journey. Council for Relationships logo is displayed in the upper left corner

National Coming Out Day: Embracing Identity & Mental Health

October 11, 2024

Each year, National Coming Out Day reminds the LGBTQ+ community and allies to honor the courage of coming out. Founded on the belief that sharing one’s true self leads to…

Read More
Young college student in a relaxed pose, representing the focus on mental health. The image includes text that reads 'Council for Relationships - Managing Anxiety & Burnout: Mental Health Tips for College Students' by Lia Pezzato, MFT. The background features a calm indoor setting with books and plants, emphasizing a supportive environment for managing stress.

Managing Anxiety & Burnout: Mental Health Tips for College Students

October 2, 2024

Many students feel the weight of balancing classes, extracurriculars, and social activities as the school year progresses. While some may navigate these demands with ease, others struggle with anxiety and…

Read More
A title graphic for the blog "Purity Culture and Sexual Shame: A Closer Look" by Julianna Strati. The background features a sepia-toned image of the exterior of a brick church with a cross on the rooftop, set against a partly cloudy sky. The blog title is in white text, with "A Closer Look" highlighted in bright teal. The logo for "Council for Relationships" is placed in the bottom right corner of the image. The overall tone of the image is solemn and reflective, aligning with the subject of the blog.

Purity Culture and Sexual Shame: A Closer Look

September 5, 2024

Purity culture and sexual shame have shaped the lives of many people raised in Christian communities in the United States. These beliefs became popular in the 1990s. They often suggest…

Read More
Portrait of queer-affirming therapist in philadelphia, Lia Pezzato, a Marriage & Family Therapist at Council for Relationships, featured as the "Featured Therapist." Lia practices in Philadelphia's Center City, Blue Bell, PA, and Voorhees, NJ. The image includes her name and her areas of service, with a logo in the bottom corner representing Council for Relationships. The background is a bright turquoise with purple text.

Queer-Affirming Therapist in Philadelphia: Lia Pezzato, MFT

August 15, 2024

At Council for Relationships (CFR), we proudly shine a spotlight on Lia Pezzato, MFT, a dedicated queer-affirming therapist in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Lia brings a unique perspective and passion…

Read More
The image features a photo of a woman with long, blonde hair, smiling and dressed in professional attire. The background of the image is teal, and above the photo, there is a heading in bold purple text that reads "Featured Therapist." Below the photo, the name "Meghan Rydzewski" is displayed in large purple text. Underneath her name, in smaller white text, it says "Marriage & Family Therapist Philly & New Jersey." At the bottom right corner, there is a logo for the Council for Relationships, accompanied by a heart icon featuring a rainbow pride flag design.

Featured Therapist in Philadelphia: Meghan Rydzewski, MFT at Council for Relationships

May 21, 2024

Welcome to Council for Relationships (CFR) ‘s monthly Featured Clinician blog, highlighting the dedicated professionals who provide exceptional therapy and psychiatry services to the Philadelphia region. This month, we are…

Read More
This is a collage of black and white images with a central color image, laid out to create a promotional graphic for an article or a discussion topic. The central color image shows two people, with a focus on their hands gently resting on one another, showcasing rings, implying a significant relationship. Surrounding this image are various black and white photos depicting different forms of affection or companionship: two people laughing together, a person resting their head on another's shoulder, two individuals sitting by a body of water, an elderly couple smiling at the camera, and a person cuddling with a dog. Overlaid on the collage is a block of text that reads "QUEERPLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS & QUESTIONING ROMANTIC HIERARCHY BY ANDY PHAM & CASEY HERGER" with the logo "COUNCIL FOR RELATIONSHIPS" at the bottom. The composition suggests a focus on the depth and variety of relationships beyond traditional romantic frameworks.

Queerplatonic Relationships & Questioning Romantic Hierarchy 

February 15, 2024
and

This blog discusses the overlapping of different types of relationships, particularly in queerplatonic bonds. It also explores the complexities of human connections. Queerplatonic relationships go beyond labels and involve people…

Read More
Transgender flag

Transgender Day of Visibility and Mental Health

March 31, 2023

Transgender Day of Visibility, or TDoV, is a day where we celebrate the lives and contributions of the transgender community. At a time of unprecedent discrimination and violence aimed at…

Read More

Going “Home” for the Holidays

November 14, 2022

For some of us, including me, the phrase “going home for the holidays” invites anxiety, dread, and avoidance. Every year I struggle to decide what to do for Thanksgiving. The…

Read More