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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
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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 services. Although Pride Month and other LGBTQ+ observances often lead national conversations, trans visibility deserves its own spotlight, especially when access to care is on…

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Illustrated blog graphic with the title “Middle East & Mental Health.” Subtitle reads “Mental Health Stigma and Cultural Competence in Middle Eastern Communities.” The background is purple with turquoise clouds, stars, and a crescent moon. A skyline of Middle Eastern-style architecture and palm trees appears at the bottom. Text box reads “A New Blog by Sophie Barkhordari.” Council for Relationships logo is in the bottom left corner.

Mental Health Stigma & Cultural Competence in the Middle East

April 15, 2025

Mental health remains a difficult topic in many Middle Eastern communities, where values such as strength, privacy, and honor often discourage open emotional expression. As a result, mental health stigma is widespread, making it harder for individuals to seek help without shame or fear of judgment. Healing begins when clients find therapy that reflects cultural…

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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 a recipient of CFR’s Diversity Scholarship for Emerging Clinicians—shares her reflections on what it means to live authentically as a member of the LGBTQ+ community…

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A black-and-white image of a handgun lying on the ground near an evidence marker labeled '1,' with additional markers in the background. The image is overlaid with Council for Relationships' branding and the blog title: 'Trauma Responses & Community Violence – Why the Brain Reacts the Way It Does. A new blog by Davina Scott.'

Trauma Responses & Community Violence: Why the Brain Reacts the Way It Does

March 3, 2025

Davina Scott, a Clinical Intern at Council for Relationships and a student at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the profound effects of community violence on mental health. In this blog, she examines how trauma responses influence the behavior, decision-making, and coping skills of those who have experienced violence. By understanding these responses, communities can develop…

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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 that a person’s worth is tied to their sexual behavior, especially for women and LGBTQ+ individuals. This focus on sexual purity affects how people see…

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PTSD Awareness Day 2024 image with a person sitting outdoors, looking thoughtful. Text reads 'Emerging Conceptualizations of Trauma' by Andy Phạm, MFT, Council for Relationships.

PTSD Awareness & Emerging Ideas on Trauma

June 26, 2024

As we mark the 15th Annual PTSD Awareness Day, it’s essential to reflect on the evolving understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on diverse communities. In this insightful blog, CFR Staff Therapist Andy Phạm, MFT, delves into the emerging ideas of trauma and the significance of precision in PTSD diagnosis. With a…

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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
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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 who identify as asexual, aromantic, or sexual and romantic feelings. They show deep emotional intimacy. Queerplatonic partners display characteristics commonly linked to romantic partnerships, yet…

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A graphic with a turquoise background and a green border features an illustration of a green brain with dark blue lines representing neural pathways. The title in bold purple text reads, "Neurodivergent: Meaning & Comorbidities," and below it, in smaller text, it says, "By Talia Higgins." At the bottom, the Council for Relationships logo appears in purple.

Neurodivergent: Navigating the Mental Health Issues

August 7, 2023

What it means to be neurodivergent is often misunderstood. The term describes individuals whose brain processes, learns, or behaves differently from what is typical. This term covers many conditions, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette’s Syndrome. Although the term is becoming more common, many people still misunderstand…

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Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day 2023

May 12, 2023

I find myself in an appreciative mood today. Sure, it is Friday (if it is not Friday at the time you are reading this, it will soon be Friday, so you are getting there!), and the weather is unseasonably warm today. But what makes me bask in this appreciative disposition is the fact that today,…

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AI & Mental Health Therapy

April 25, 2023

Buzz about the potential uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in the mental health space has exploded since the launch of Open AI’s ChatGPT-3 last fall. Today, ChatGPT has more than 13 million daily users. Its ability to mimic natural human language, write sonnets, screenplays, and even news articles, has captured our imagination and spurned much…

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