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Mind, Body, and Soul Care
In a busy world, it can be challenging to remember to pause and take inventory of how you’re doing emotionally and mentally. With endless to-do lists and constant overstimulation from the news and navigating life in the pandemic, it’s hard to focus on anything other than just getting through the day. Do you ever feel…
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Processing Emotions and Connecting with Community After a Mass Shooting
I personally have never experienced trauma related to gun violence. But, the emotion I feel each time this happens is hopelessness. Our society has adopted a certain performance mechanism to these acts of terror—we awaken with shock and horror, but quickly bury these emotions. Instead, we choose to debate Second Amendment rights, question forensic profiling,…
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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Shifting 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 MoreFinding meaningful connection with social media friends
Martha Rinehart, MA, LAC, MFT, NCC, our Featured Therapist for April 2018, employs mindfulness-based approach in her practice. If you are interested in therapy with Martha, request an appointment today at our Oxford Valley or Lawrenceville offices. There is considerable push back sweeping the country with the “Me Too” anti-sexual harassment movement, the “Never Again,” anti-gun violence movement, Black Lives…
Read MoreHow is it 2018 Already? How to Slow Down When Time Feels like it’s Flying by
Every month, Council for Relationships highlights one of our staff therapists on the blog. January’s Featured Therapist Laurel Roe, MS CHR, MFT, has a background in education and particularly enjoys working with families with members who have special needs, parenting issues, childhood developmental concerns, and anxiety in children, teens, and adults. Read more blogs written by…
Read MoreDe-Stress with This Easy Breathing Technique You Can Do Right Now
Laurel Roe, MS CHR, MFT, has a background in education and particularly enjoys working with families with members who have special needs, parenting issues, childhood developmental concerns, and anxiety in children, teens, and adults. “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you.” Jon Kabat-Zin I hear many…
Read MoreHow to Find Joy, the Lasting Happiness
Wanda Sevey, MDiv, LMFT helps individuals, couples, and families with communication and relationship skill building. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and highly skilled at coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. Years ago, a wise friend advised me, “Don’t let anyone take away your joy.” I was in a rough place, experiencing some struggles as a…
Read MoreWays to Practice Gratitude Without a Gratitude Journal
Are you feeling more worried lately? Have you experienced a drop in the number of pleasurable experiences you have? Are you feeling all around less positive than last year? You’re not alone. A recent Gallup Poll indicates that in the past year many Americans have experienced a decline in their sense of well-being. Fortunately, research…
Read MoreCoping with the Las Vegas Shooting: How to Talk to Your Kids
What About the Children? Ben King and Laurel Roe, staff therapists at CFR, share their insights below on how to talk to your kids about the shooting in Las Vegas this week. “I am so upset that my children are growing up in this world.” “How do I explain what is happening to my children? …
Read MoreCoping with the Las Vegas Shooting: How to Respond When We Feel Powerless
It was the first thing we heard yesterday when we woke up here in Eastern Standard Time. There had been another mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas at an outdoor music festival. It was the worst shooting in our national history, said the news. After the devastation and continuing crises in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico, the…
Read MorePracticing Everyday Self-Care in the Wake of Tragedy
Once again, we are in shock at the capacity of a human being to damage and kill other people—and there is nothing comprehensible about such carnage. The many feelings you may feel at a time like this—shock, anger, sadness, horror, fear, hopelessness—can easily lead to questions about human nature and the meaning of everyday life….
Read MoreCoping with the News of a Mass Shooting: Fighting Fear with Love
Waking up in the aftermath of a tragedy is jarring. This morning, I reached for my phone alarm, but before I could press snooze, I was startled by the number of texts from my friends and family. A CNN alert proclaimed a mass shooting. I sat up immediately, shaken from my sleepy fog. Again? Las…
Read MoreEmpowering Minds Globally
By Tracey Tanenbaum Last year Council for Relationships kicked off what will hopefully be a lasting annual tradition. We inaugurated an award in honor of CFR’s founder. Dr. Emily Hartshorne Mudd was a feminist and change agent, committed to bettering the lives of couples and families. In her spirit, the award is given to an…
Read MoreThe Fidget Spinner Spin
Are you asking yourself, what is a fidget spinner? Don’t feel bad if you are, I had to google it too. While that might mean that we both live under rocks, a fidget spinner is basically the newest iteration of a tool for doing something that most of us do already. It is a plastic…
Read MoreBenchmarks of Self-Care
Shadeen Francis is a Staff Therapist at CFR, specializing in sex therapy at University City office. To request an appointment with Shadeen, click here or call Client Care at 215-382-6680 extension 1. If we were to image life as a journey, self-care could be the wagon that carries us along our path. At what point do you tend…
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How to extend your vacation feeling after coming home
Wanda Sevey, MDiv, LMFT, is a staff therapist and office director of our Lawrenceville and Voorhees, New Jersey offices. She is an ordained minister in the progressive United Church of Christ and is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Relationship Enhancement Therapy. Every summer I wish I could make it last just a little longer….
Read MorePulling Weeds and Planting Flowers
As spring tempts us with ever warming sun coaxing those first flowers, how can we renew ourselves? I’ve been following the work of Dr. Ira Byock, Palliative Care Physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and leading authority and advocate for improving care throughout the lifespan. In his book, The Four Things That Matter Most, a…
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Tune Out Technology and Tune Into Love
As technology and culture evolve, environmental distractions abound. Individuals are becoming connected to the digital world at a mind-blowing pace with innumerable opportunities for entertainment and social connection through one’s cell phone or other digital device. This is often seen gazing out across a busy restaurant, bar, or other social arena where both sole individuals…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Being Thankful
It started a few weeks ago. Every day a few more catalogs arrive, each one enticing me to overspend my holiday budget. Even worse for me, when I open my favorite online newspaper I see links to hundreds if not thousands of recipes for holiday meals and treats. For some of us, the invitation to…
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How to Cultivate Gratitude
Staff Therapist Carol Blum, M.Ed, CAC, MFT, LPC works with mindfulness techniques. She also has 20 years experience working with clients who have experienced trauma, grief, health concerns, addiction, depression, anxiety, and serious mental illness. Research in neuroscience tells us that regular doses of gratitude can change the wiring of our brains just like regular doses of…
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