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Category » Women’s Issues
Mental Health Care for Women in 2025
In 2025, mental health care for women remains a critical public health issue—especially for those whose daily life is shaped by systemic inequality, trauma, or discrimination. At Council for Relationships (CFR), we believe effective care must be rooted in intersectionality and mental health, recognizing how overlapping identities affect access, outcomes, and the emotional weight women…
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EMDR Therapy for Sexual Assault and Negative Cognitions
Sexual assault is a deeply traumatic experience that can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. Survivors often carry invisible wounds that affect their daily lives, relationships, and sense of safety. While every survivor’s journey is unique, many grapple with mental health challenges in the aftermath of trauma—challenges that can feel overwhelming and isolating. Fortunately, healing…
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Emily Mudd: Celebrating the Founder of Council for Relationships | Part One
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us reflect on the work of Dr. Emily Hartshorne Mudd. She was a visionary in women’s mental health who championed relationship equity when women’s voices were often dismissed. In 1932, Dr. Mudd established the Marriage Council of Philadelphia, now known as the Council for Relationships. This was one…
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How to Practice Mindfulness: A Woman’s Guide
How to Practice Mindfulness to Support Your Health and Well-being Our daily moods and life experiences are closely linked to our health. Many people don’t realize that stress can affect physical well-being. For example, studies show that women who experience chronic stress face a higher risk of severe health outcomes, including cancer, heart disease, and…
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Managing Anxiety & Burnout: Mental Health Tips for College Students
Many students feel the weight of balancing classes, extracurriculars, and social activities as the school year progresses. While some may navigate these demands with ease, others struggle with anxiety and burnout. CFR Staff Therapist Lia Pezzato, MFT, offers mental health tips for college students to help manage these common challenges. In this blog, Lia outlines…
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NICU Moms: Coping with Trauma & Finding Support
September is NICU Awareness Month, a time when NICU moms reflect on the emotional and mental toll of having a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Jamie Rose, MAC, LMFT, a Staff Therapist and Director of the MFT Postgraduate Certificate Program at Council for Relationships, shares her deeply personal experience as a NICU…
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Purity Culture and Sexual Shame: A Closer Look
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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Closing the Gap: Perinatal Mental Health Services in North Philadelphia
Perinatal mental health services play a crucial role in supporting expecting and new mothers, offering hope and essential care in communities facing significant challenges. This blog explores the transformative impact of these services, detailing the journey of embedding a Council for Relationships (CFR) Therapist within the Stephen Klein Wellness Center in North Philadelphia and the…
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Ambivalence During Pregnancy: Navigating the Unspoken
Pregnancy is often portrayed as a time of joy and anticipation, but for many, it’s a period marked by complex emotions. Ambivalence during pregnancy, a state of having mixed feelings about the impending arrival of one’s baby, is a common yet seldom discussed phenomenon. This silence fosters a sense of isolation, shame, and fear, leading…
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Women’s Psychological Safety in the Workplace
In an era where women’s psychological safety in the workplace has increasingly come to the forefront, it’s crucial to shine a light on the silent battles many face daily. This blog delves into the struggles against workplace harassment and its profound impact on mental health. Amidst Women’s History Month, we underscore the importance of creating…
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Identity Shift in Motherhood: Navigating New Challenges & Rediscovering Yourself
Embarking on the journey of motherhood introduces a profound “identity shift in motherhood” that many are unprepared for. This transformative phase brings various challenges, from the loss of personal identity to the struggle to find joy amidst the chaos of parenting. This blog delves into the heart of these experiences, offering insights and practical advice…
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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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New Parents, Social Media & Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
From over-the-top pregnancy reveals to momfluencers with hundreds of thousands of followers, social media might lead new parents to believe pregnancy is relatively easy. It is not. Pregnancy is complicated. The pregnancy reality for new parents is often more complicated than social media wants you to believe. At best, pregnancy is a joyful time for…
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Benefits of Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Groups
While becoming a new mother is rewarding, the journey is riddled with constant change, uncertainty, feelings of doubt, fear, and isolation. New mothers often fear voicing their needs or reaching out for help because they fear burdening those around them. New mothers also wrestle with feelings of guilt and shame for feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed,…
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