Blog » Category » Life Transitions

Category » Life Transitions

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 self-acceptance and positive change, this day celebrates those who openly embrace their identities and honors those who have paved the way for today’s freedoms. Council…

Read More
The graphic from Council for Relationships features a vinyl record cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version), with an image of Taylor smiling against a blue sky. The text at the top reads, "Taylor Swift Songs About Mental Health," while the author, Meghan Rydzewski, MFT, is credited on the side. Below the album cover image, the title "1989 (Taylor’s Version)" is written, with the Council for Relationships logo in the lower-right corner. The design features a purple border, and the graphic emphasizes the focus on mental health themes found within Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor's Version) album.

What Taylor Swift’s Songs About Mental Health Teach Us: 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

October 1, 2024

Taylor Swift’s songs about mental health have long resonated with listeners, and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is no exception. This rerelease was part of Taylor’s mission to reclaim ownership of her original music. After losing the rights to her first six albums, she began rerecording each one, starting with Fearless. Now, fans can enjoy a refreshed…

Read More
NICU Moms: A mother looks at her newborn in an incubator in the NICU. Text overlay reads 'NICU Moms: Coping with Trauma & Finding Support' by Jamie Rose, MAC, LMFT. Council for Relationships logo is at the bottom.

NICU Moms: Coping with Trauma & Finding Support

September 27, 2024

September is NICU Awareness Month, a time when NICU moms reflect on the emotional and mental toll of having a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Jamie Rose, MAC, LMFT, a Staff Therapist and Director of the MFT Postgraduate Certificate Program at Council for Relationships, shares her deeply personal experience as a NICU…

Read More
Image of a military parent in uniform holding a young child. Text overlay reads: 'Military Children's Mental Health: Navigating the Challenges of Deployment & Relocation' by Allen-Michael Lewis, LMFT, MS, AS. Council for Relationships logo is in the bottom corner.

Military Children Mental Health: Navigating the Challenges of Deployment & Relocation

August 28, 2024

Nicole’s father has been on active duty in the Army for most of her life. He has had several deployments, and their family moved multiple times, bringing them to different duty stations during her childhood and teenage years. When people discuss the military, they often focus on active-duty and veteran service members, but they usually…

Read More
An image featuring a promotional graphic for a therapist being featured in the news. The backdrop is split with a dark purple top half adorned with repetitive text saying "THE NEWS" in light gray, and the bottom half shows a light gray pattern with faint circular designs. The central focus is a framed photo of a smiling woman with long red hair, identified as Meghan Rydzewski, MFT, a staff therapist at CFR. To the left of her photo, there's a bold purple vertical stripe and a large, green, rectangular border surrounding her picture. Beneath the photo, in bold white text against a black background, reads "Featured in" followed by the publication name "The Wildest" in a stylized font that looks handwritten. The overall design suggests a professional announcement of the individual's media appearance.

CFR Staff Therapist Meghan Rydzewski Featured in The Wildest

April 17, 2024

April 17, 2024 | CFR Staff Therapist Meghan Rydzewski, MFT, was featured in The Wildest. Meghan spoke with journalist Maggie Langer for Maggie’s article, “So, You and Your Partner Want to Live Together—But Your Pets Don’t.” We encourage you to read and share the article. To request an appointment with Meghan Rydzewski, visit her biography….

Read More
An artistic blog feature image in grayscale with an abstract design representing growth. A stylized plant with broad leaves sprouts from a central path that meanders toward the viewer, bordered by swirling, smoke-like patterns. At the top, "SEED OF CHANGE" is written in large, bold letters, with the subtitle "Pathways to Personal and Spiritual Growth" just below in a smaller font. The author's name, "Rev. Dr. Dolores Littleton, LMFT," is positioned at the bottom, and the text "COUNCIL FOR RELATIONSHIPS" appears in the lower corner, suggesting a sponsoring organization. The monochrome palette gives the image a serene and contemplative mood.

Seed of Change: Pathways to Personal and Spiritual Growth

March 26, 2024

Embarking on a transformation journey begins with the “Seed of Change.” This blog explores how embracing shifts in our lives, inspired by faith and Jesus’ teachings, can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth, guiding us through darkness into the light of new beginnings. The Seed of Change: Understanding Personal Growth When I was a…

Read More
Artistic cover image for a blog titled 'Identity Shift in Motherhood – Navigating New Challenges & Rediscovering Yourself', by Sonja Spangler, LSW. The illustration features a woman's profile made of swirling, leafy patterns in a harmonious blend of purple and green hues, symbolizing growth and transformation. Butterflies and soft, floating elements signify change and rebirth. The bottom of the image includes the 'Council for Relationships' logo, emphasizing the theme of personal development within motherhood.

Identity Shift in Motherhood: Navigating New Challenges & Rediscovering Yourself

March 19, 2024

Embarking on the journey of motherhood introduces a profound “identity shift in motherhood” that many are unprepared for. This transformative phase brings various challenges, from the loss of personal identity to the struggle to find joy amidst the chaos of parenting. This blog delves into the heart of these experiences, offering insights and practical advice…

Read More

Are you building the life you want as 2023 transitions into 2024?

October 4, 2023

This is a time of year perfect for reflection and optimism. As we begin the period of time when we hand off one year to the next, take a moment to consider your own mental health. How are you doing? Are you taking care of you? In this blog, CFR Staff Therapist L. Stewart Barbera…

Read More

Caring for an Aging Parent: 3 Tips to Keep You from Losing Yourself

July 20, 2023

Caring for an aging parent can feel daunting, frustrating, isolating, and sad. But it does not have to be this way. Read on to the learn more about the following tips to help keep you from losing yourself as you care for your parent.  Tip #1:  Take it slow. Caring for an elderly parent is…

Read More

New Parents, Social Media & Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

March 21, 2023

From over-the-top pregnancy reveals to momfluencers with hundreds of thousands of followers, social media might lead new parents to believe pregnancy is relatively easy. It is not. Pregnancy is complicated. The pregnancy reality for new parents is often more complicated than social media wants you to believe. At best, pregnancy is a joyful time for…

Read More