Category » Therapists

Advocating for Humanity During War

October 20, 2023

Many of us have been overwhelmed by the tragic, unspeakable events that have resulted in the escalating Israel-Hamas War. We may experience a variety of emotions and hold our own narratives as we are exposed to horrific images and news stories. Undoubtedly some of Council for Relationships’ clients, along with our colleagues and family members…

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Disenfranchised Grief: How the Passing of My Cat Made Me a Better Therapist

October 18, 2023

We all grieve at some point in our lives. Some of us have had too many opportunities to grieve while others may have experienced grief once or twice. The sources of our grief are as varied as the personalities of humans and how we grieve varies just as much. Sometimes, however, we experience disenfranchised grief when…

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Taylor Swift Songs about Mental Health: Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

October 17, 2023

At Council for Relationships, we’re all about making mental health care more accessible, and we know that getting folks to talk about mental health is one of the first steps in getting people the help they need. This is why we’re proponents of efforts, whether implicit or explicit, to open up avenues for mental health…

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South Asian Communities

South Asian Communities & Mental Health

October 16, 2023

There is growing concern for the mental health crisis impacting South Asian American communities, and the causes of this crisis are complex. From cultural and generational differences, lack of Asian American therapists, and myriad other reasons, many in the South Asian community view mental health with a stigma. Read on to learn more about South…

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How do you deal with imposter syndrome?

October 10, 2023

Have you ever been in a work environment, educational environment, or social environment, and feel as though you do not deserve to be there or be recognized? So many achieve great accomplishments, and work towards obtaining goals, being unapologetically themselves and feeling confident and proud of who they are and what they achieved. Despite this,…

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

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…

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2023

Many believe that the effects of domestic violence are limited to the abuser and the victim, but as the U.S. Department of Justice’s own Office on Violence Against Women states, “domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community…

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What is ADHD Masking?

September 27, 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, better known as ADHD, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, ADHD does not impact children only. ADHD is a lifelong disorder that goes underreported and underdiagnosed in adults. Many adults with ADHD hide or “mask” their symptoms due to…

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Therapy That Can Teach You Forgiveness

September 25, 2023

We all know that the ability to forgive someone is a valued human trait. But dang is it hard to do. If you’re a human, then you’ve experienced a situation where you’ve been wronged by someone else (and vice versa). Most people want to be known as “forgiving,” but there are few manuals on how…

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3 Alarming Takeaways for Parents of Teens in Age Discrepant Relationships

September 22, 2023

Age-discrepant relationships are relationships where partners have a sizeable gap between the ages of those in the relationship. While there is no hard and fast number to define what is considered “sizeable,” when it comes to relationships between teenagers and adults, laws define the age of consent. Mainstream pop stars like Demi Lovato are driving…

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Taylor Swift Songs about Mental Health: The Self-Titled Edition

September 18, 2023

At Council for Relationships, we’re all about making mental health care more accessible, and we know that getting folks to talk about mental health is one of the first steps in getting people the help they need. This is why we’re proponents of efforts, whether implicit or explicit, top open up avenues for mental health…

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A quote from CFR Staff Therapist Joanne Gonzales, MFT, stating, "“The goal of therapy is to help you feel comfortable in your skin and to gain control over your emotions, especially during times of high stress. Life is easy when your brain is firing on all cylinders, but if you are stuck in a cycle of distress or dysregulation, it can sometimes be overwhelming to just exist in this world. I want to bring you back to you.”

Philadelphia Therapist Accepting New Clients: Joanne Gonzales, MFT

September 13, 2023

Finding a Philadelphia therapist accepting new clients can be difficult. CFR is proud to have Staff Therapist Joanne Gonzales, MFT, as a member of our organization. Joanne sees patients virtually or in person and is currently accepting new clients. Continue reading to learn more about Joanne’s therapeutic approaches, goals, and training. Joanne’s journey to becoming…

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How to Breathe Correctly

September 5, 2023

If you are reading this, there is a chance you are also holding your breath or your breath is shallow. You are not unique, unfortunately. Most of us are not breathing correctly, especially when we are looking at a screen. CFR Staff Therapist and CPI Specialist Mike Butera discusses the following in this article: Reflections…

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Mike Butera

CFR Staff Therapist Mike Butera Featured in Fatherly

August 10, 2023

August 11, 2023 | CFR Staff Therapist Mike Butera, MFT, was featured in the recent Fatherly article, “The ‘Criticize-Defend’ Cycle Can Ruin Relationships. Here’s How To Escape” by Jeremy Brown. Give it a read. Mike sees clients in person and online. To request an appointment, you can reach him at mbutera@councilforrelationships.org or (215) 382-6680 ext. 4346….

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TBI: Meaning, Importance, and Hope

August 9, 2023

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ partnership with Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection to bring a new service pup to the Phillies for training reminds us of the importance of learning about and addressing treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Veterans. TBI was the signature war wound of the Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan (OEF) and Operation…

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Sara Corse

CFR Staff Therapist Dr. Sara J. Corse Featured in Glam

August 9, 2023

August 9, 2023 | CFR’s Director of Community Partnerships Initiative (CPI) and Staff Therapist Dr. Sara J. Corse, was featured in the recent Glam article titled, “Myths About Power Imbalances In Age-Gap Relationships, Debunked” by Brie Schmidt. Give it a read. Kristine sees clients in person and online. To set up an appointment, you can…

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CFR Staff Therapist Kristine Seitz Featured in AskMen

August 4, 2023

August 4, 2023 | CFR’s Staff Therapist Kristine Seitz, MEd, MSW, LSW, was featured in the recent AskMen article titled, “Common Dating Mistakes Men Make in the First Few Dates” by Maddie Simone. Give it a read. Kristine sees clients in person and online. To set up an appointment, you can reach her at kseitz@councilforrelationships.org…

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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…

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In My Feelings: Experiencing & Understanding Emotions

July 18, 2023

Raise your hand if you have ever been in your feelings. Have you ever stopped and thought about what being “in my feelings” really means? Experiencing our emotions, and understanding what those feelings mean, is a critical aspect of any mental health journey. Read on for answers to the following questions: What are emotions? Where…

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Philadelphia Therapist Accepting New Clients: Amy Leonard, MSW

July 5, 2023

Finding a Philadelphia therapist accepting new clients can be difficult. CFR is proud to have Staff Therapist Amy Leonard, MSW, as a member of our organization. Amy sees patients virtually or in person and is currently accepting new clients. Continue reading to learn more about Amy’s therapeutic approaches, goals, and training. Amy’s journey to becoming…

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Juneteenth at Longwood Gardens

On Friday, June 16, 2023, Longwood Gardens hosted Fashioning Freedom, a event honoring the power of fashion in the struggle for freedom. It promised to be an evening for celebrating African American fashion and its critical relationship to the work of freedom. After spending her day seeing clients and working towards her doctorate, CFR Staff…

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