Search for a therapist, a psychiatrist or other content:
“I Don’t See Color”: White Caregivers Raising BIPOC Children
In previous generations, the phrase “I don’t see color” was a mark of being progressive. Parents would use the phrase to explain why the differences of another person were not important when cultivating relationships. By telling children the color of a person does not matter, it also allows for parents and caregivers to avoid having…
Read More
Opening Our Eyes to Opportunities for Change
Sitting in my office at 40th and Chestnut Streets, I often look east and admire the beautiful mural of a young Black man, titled “Colorful Legacy,” by Willis “Nomo” Humphrey and Keir Johnston. As I gaze at the image, I sometimes shake my head when reflecting on my initial misunderstanding of the artists’ message; I…
Read MoreThe Importance of Homeostasis & Self-Love
Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, gender, ethnicity, hue, or identity. All humans can be subjected to experiencing mental health challenges. The objective is to determine how to manage these conditions to avoid losing control of your life and mental state. African Americans are a vulnerable population because of past and present…
Read More
The 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 More
A White Therapist’s Thoughts on Change
Change. What leads to change? As therapists this is a question many of us have considered deeply in our professional development. Students at Council for Relationships write their final paper on their theory of change because we believe that it is so foundational to their growth as therapists. We all know that it is hard…
Read MoreOwning Your Narrative as A Biracial Person in America
Allen-Michael Lewis, MS, LMFT joined our staff in 2018 and has been working as a couple and family therapist since 2012. He has a specific passion for working with children, teens, and young adults as they attempt to navigate life transitions. In the United States, we continue to see an increase in the reported number…
Read MoreWHYY Radio Times Addresses Mental Health in African American Communities
August 30, 2018 | WHYY Radio Times ran a program on Mental Health and Black Communities on Monday, August 27. Marty Moss-Coane’s guests were Philadelphia psychiatrists Delane Casiano and Karriem Salaam, who are co-authors of the book, Mind Matters: A Resource Guide to Psychiatry for Black Communities and Howard Stevenson, professor of Urban Education, and…
Read MoreThe Lifelong Benefits of Military Family Life for Adult Children
At Council for Relationships, our Staff Therapists come from diverse backgrounds that have shaped their clinical practices. Staff Therapist Rita DeMaria, PhD, LMFT, CST spent her young life abroad in Japan, Ethiopia, and Turkey as her family moved around to accommodate her father’s military career. Read in her own words how this experience shaped her…
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 MoreThis means opening our hearts; A how-to guide
In Dallas this week the President asked us all to open our hearts to one another. He asked us to remember that each person brings their own inner story to the stories of protest and violence we’ve experienced, seen or heard about this past week. It’s not an easy thing to open our heart to another…
Read MoreMy View: The Building Brotherhood Mural
I greatly appreciate being able to see this mural, entitled Building Brotherhood, from my desk at the University City office of Council for Relationships. An article about it in WestPhillyLocal.com explains that it “was designed to inspire males of color to build supportive relationships with one another as a mechanism for coping with – and…
Read MoreNational Social Work Month: The Work That We Do
For the past 12 years, I have been a social worker. I started out working in North Philly at an alternative school for students who were expelled from public schools. It remains one of the best jobs I have had since graduating. I truly loved working with the students, who were difficult but very special….
Read MoreRacial Conversations: Let the Healing Begin
I was really moved and touched by the number of commercials during the Super Bowl this year centering around connection and love. It made me think about how much people really desire more of those things in their lives. I also realized that the current racial conversation taking place is also about connection and love….
Read More