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Blog2026-02-26T08:14:00-05:00
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Dance & Movement for Trauma Recovery

“Movement was my first language.” Grace, a 33-year-old Philadelphian, specializes in helping kids and people of all ages develop a deep awareness of who they are, lean into their innate creativity, process trauma, and move more fluidly through life transitions. As a Dance/Movement Therapist (DMT) and Somatic Therapist, Grace stresses that “movement is so important for children. Moving is foundational to building their sense of who they are. Children’s individuation process is embodied.” Moving, touching things, and exploring the space all allow kids to build body awareness. They build both physical and emotional fortitude in the process, and learn to interact with others, learn what their boundaries are, and have fun. Especially in this era of video games and social media. [...]

February 11th, 2025|
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How to Reach Every Child with ‘Unique’ Needs

Akpan is a toddler from Nigeria. His parents adore their little champ, even though he’s unable to call them “mummy” or “daddy.” They know he will speak someday, but when? They watch him struggle daily to mutter a sweet word. He can’t run to give his parents a hug. When will their child speak and walk? Who will help and what can we do to help him?

International Visitors Returning to DBHIDS

On Sept. 11- 12, 30 leaders from around the world will be visiting the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) to understand the developments in Philadelphia to build the mental health literacy and services.

Beating the Preteen Blues with a Healthy Lifestyle

You may be aware that over 60 percent of women and girls in Third World and developing nations do not have access to feminine hygiene products, but did you know that it's also an issue here in the U.S.? Women and girls who live below the federal poverty line often cannot afford sanitary pads and tampons, sometimes causing them to stay home from school for a few days each month.

Collaboration Can Lead to Change

What’s happening along Gurney Street is something to be celebrated. In just over two weeks since the clean-up project began along a stretch of land owned by Conrail in the Kensington-Fairhill community, more than 250 tons of waste and debris have been removed and fencing is going up to prevent people from becoming injured on or near the railroad tracks.  In addition, the fencing serves as a barrier to prevent gathering in the area where folks had engaged in dangerous and unhealthy behavior.  In this instance the “C “word, collaboration between City agencies and private partners, has made the difference — the once blighted landscape is no more.

A Face of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Awareness Month happens in October, but every day of the year several thousands of people are experiencing harm in their relationships. Normally when people hear of domestic violence stories they think of a woman, scarred and bruised from being battered by a man. The image of a woman’s swollen face with a black eye and bloody lip is probably the first visual that forms in most minds when they imagine someone who has experienced domestic violence.

Q&A Brings to Light Yoga’s Benefits for Overall Wellness

Yoga and its ties to mental health is a burgeoning area of discussion in the mental health field. The way I see it, yoga and psychology are like two roads that eventually converge into one: they both lead toward healthier, more joyful lives, but they originate from different places.  My name is Julie Caramanico.  I am a certified yoga instructor for adults and children with a master’s degree in Health Psychology.  I teach trauma-informed yoga to adults (vinyasa style) and teach kids yoga for children with special needs. For the purposes of this blog, I will be conducting an interview with Jessica Pavelka, a psychotherapist and yoga teacher.  We discussed how she uses yoga in therapy, and she offered her wisdom on utilizing yogic tools for two of the most common mental health concerns: depression and anxiety.

Healthy Minds Philly is an initiative of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia

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