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 MoreWhat Is Racial Trauma and How to Practice Radical Self-Care
Dr. Charles Muorah has successfully helped clients resolve shame and sexual abuse trauma, cultural, racial, and other kinds of trauma. He uses brainspotting (BSP) therapy, narrative approach, relational attunements, mindfulness, and empowering language to process with the client coping strategies, adaptation and resiliency before, during and after the experience. Recent instances of police brutality and…
Read MoreHow Would You Help a Friend, Family Member, or Loved One Who is Struggling?
We will be sharing stories over the next few weeks that resemble actual mental health struggles that people face every day. Your co-worker confides in you about issues he’s been dealing with at work. He is feeling substantial pressure, which is causing him a crippling amount of stress. He’s been having panic attacks and…
Read MoreThe Economy’s Psychological Impact on Millennials
William Coffey, LCSW, is a Staff Therapist at our Center City and Voorhees, NJ offices. At the conclusion of World War II, the U.S. economy took off like a rocket. After the Greatest Generation defeated Nazi Germany, they came home, found new jobs, bought homes, and gave birth to the largest generation of children the…
Read MoreEustress: How to Use Stress to Your Advantage
Florda Priftanji, LMFT joined our staff in 2018 and is this month’s Featured Therapist. Read on to learn how stress can sometimes be a good thing. We often view stress as a problem to avoid. However, when stress is used to our advantage, it can aid by increasing productivity, helping us detect harm, and…
Read MoreKeeping College Admissions In Perspective
If you’re a senior in high school or the parent of a senior in high school, the end of March is more about college admissions than the beginning of spring. The recent college admissions scandal is just one example of how parents can become overwhelmed and over-involved in the lives and decisions of the high…
Read MoreMy Message to Women: You do not have to suffer in silence
Elyse Stein Batoff, Psychologist, LMFT has years of experience working in the area of Women’s Psychological Health Services. She has offered the emotional support that has been needed by many women as they go through physical changes and issues ranging from infertility, pregnancy, postpartum depression, sexual concerns, and menopause. Collaboration with physicians such as OB/GYN’s…
Read MoreYou are not alone. Help is available.
Depression and anxiety can be invisible or have very few outside symptoms, and those who are depressed or anxious often do not speak up or seek help. Check in with your friends. Check in with your family. Encourage anyone who is struggling to talk with a professional. CFR’s list of resources can be found here,…
Read MoreCollege Students Are Feeling More Anxious and Depressed – How Can We Do Better?
When I was a sophomore in college, two of my peers committed suicide in the same school year. These were students who shared mutual friends, joined in for pick-up basketball games in the gym, and attended the same parties and events on campus. For me, this marked a moment in life when suicide was close…
Read MoreNeed a vacation? Take a social media break!
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. Taking a break from social media can provide many of the same health benefits as a traditional vacation. Whether we like…
Read MoreThe benefits of “faking calm” when you feel angry
March Featured Therapist Ellen Mishel, MSS, LSW, MFT specializes in helping parents improve their parenting skills and relationships with their children. Her tips for channeling angry energy into productive communication are great for couple or co-worker relationships, too. We all get angry. Anger is a natural feeling. It is not good or bad. However, how we…
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 MoreShould You and Your Partner be Scheduling Sex?
Former Staff Therapist Ben King, MFT specializes in helping couples experiencing difficulties with communication, emotional/physical intimacy, and sexual difficulties. This blog was originally posted on his website and is re-published here with his permission. Many couples will have less sex later in their relationship compared to the beginning. You may have less time, not feel the same desire,…
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 MoreEagles’ Brandon Brooks Teaches Us that an Athlete’s Mental Health is Just as Important as Physical Fitness
Staff Therapist George James, Psy.D., LMFT has worked extensively with professional athletes, adult men and young adult men on various issues including defining manhood, career and work-life balance. He also specializes in helping couples improve the quality of their relationship, reconcile conflicts and overcome intense situations such as affairs, lack of communication, parenting struggles and much more. PHILLY.COM: JESSICA GRIFFIN /…
Read MoreAn Empty Seat at the Table: Grief at the Holidays
Dr. Michele Marsh is a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist at our Center City location. Dr. Marsh’s specialty areas include trauma, sexuality throughout the life cycle, sexual abuse, affairs, depression and anxiety, parenting issues, and loss and grief. Sparkling lights, candles in the windows, eight nights of lights and song, wreaths everywhere, and…
Read MoreSupporting Family and Friends in Recovery This Holiday Season
Bill Coffey, MSS, LCSW is a Staff Therapist at our Center City and Voorhees, New Jersey locations. Bill has decades of experience working with individuals, couples, and families in recovery. ‘Tis the season to be full of cheer, happiness and food! For most people, the holiday season means cherished family time, exchanging of gifts, and…
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 MoreHow to Deal with “Smonday” Stress
Do you ever have a great weekend only to end up feeling super low on Sunday evening? This experience is so common that it’s become an unofficial syndrome, the “Sunday Saddies” or “Sunday Scaries.” Recently when someone on Facebook asked, “Does anyone else hate the end of the weekend?” a friend of mine suggested that…
Read MoreHow to Talk to Your Children about Public Catastrophes
This post was written by Kenneth Covelman, Ph.D., Director of Masters in Family Therapy Program, Council for Relationships and Thomas Jefferson University. It was originally published on the TJU blog and re-posted here with the author’s permission. In the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, our children are exposed to more and…
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 More