The Council for Relationships, a Philadelphia institution providing therapy and counseling services for more than 90 years, has averted closure by forming a partnership with the Lancaster-based Sun Point Foundation. The nonprofit was headed toward closure in May amid mounting financial challenges before the new partnership was announced on May 18, enabling the organization to continue its clinical mission.
Preserving Clinical Legacy
Established in 1932 as the Marriage Council of Philadelphia by Emily Hartshorne Mudd, a pioneer in marriage and family counseling, the organization has grown to employ more than 60 behavioral health providers across eight locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, plus telehealth services. The organization offers accreditation, internship, and certificate training programs for therapists and counselors at the bachelor’s and master’s-degree levels. Its clinical training program, created in 1948, has educated budding therapists, chaplains, and military health care providers for decades.
Under new CEO Neal Holmes, a licensed professional counselor and former director of clinical services at Sun Point, the organization will maintain its name, branding, and clinical approach. “We’re talking about 94 years of clinical excellence and training and supervisory foundational skills that have been built through this organization,” Holmes said. Sara J. Corse, a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, continues as chief clinical officer.
Expanding Access
A key initiative of the new partnership is to expand insurance coverage. Historically, Council for Relationships clients paid out of pocket on a sliding fee scale based on income. Going forward, the organization will accept Medicaid, a safety net program that opens access for marginalized populations. The nonprofit will continue offering sliding-scale fees for underinsured and uninsured clients. Sun Point Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Sun Point Wellness Center, launched approximately three years ago and became familiar with Council for Relationships through founder Laura Morse, who had previously studied sex therapy at the organization.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://whyy.org/articles/council-for-relationships-philly-therapy-counseling/