As May unfolds, so does Mental Health Awareness Month—a crucial time for us to reflect, educate, and advocate for mental health wellness. This year marks The Women’s Center’s 50th year of service to our community’s mental health and KPMG has joined us as our Mental Health Awareness Month Sponsor. To commemorate this milestone, we’re diving deep into our chosen theme: #EndtheStigma.  To kick off our exploration, we sat down with Susan Gatsos, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Clinical Director at The Women’s Center to gather insights from her wealth of experience. Susan share ..read more

In a world where the spotlight often shines on physical health, the significance of mental well-being sometimes gets overshadowed. However, just as vital as physical health, mental health is a cornerstone of a child’s overall development. Recognizing this, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, now recognized during the first full week of May as an integral part of Mental Health Awareness Month, promotes awareness, support, and action to nurture the mental well-being of our youngest generation.  The importance of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week has only grown in recent years, as ..read more

Diversity in leadership is essential for a company’s success. That’s not just a lofty statement; it’s backed up by research. Companies with a higher percentage of women in leadership positions consistently outperform those without. And it’s not just about gender. All forms of diversity in a company’s leadership contribute to a pool of experiences and perspectives that drive innovation and attract a broader set of talent.  Corporate America is taking heed, but the fact remains that women are still underrepresented. This is why The Women’s Center has been at the forefront of promoting div ..read more

Celebrating 50 years of service!  This year, The Women’s Center commemorates a remarkable milestone: 50 years of serving the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia communities.    In reaching this half-century milestone, we can’t help but reflect on how much has changed during the past five decades, as well as celebrate the impact that The Center has had on the community.   A lot has changed  To place the significance of the past fifty years in perspective, when The Women’s Center first opened in 1974:  The DC Metro system was not in existence yet (o ..read more

A Beacon of Support and Recovery This month’s blog focuses on the topic of Domestic Violence. As a co-founding organization and member of the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC), The Women’s Center counsels and supports hundreds of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault each year. The Center also partners with the Office of Victim Services in Washington, DC to offer free counseling, support, and programs to residents of the District. Allison Medina, Director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services at The Women’s Center provided subject-matter-expertise for this mo ..read more

Breaking down the barriers to mental health treatment We all have different opinions about mental health, different ways of expressing our emotions, and different preferences and expectations for treatment. In some cultures, mental health problems are considered a sign of weakness or a lack of willpower. In others, they may be seen as a spiritual or religious issue. Such beliefs can make it difficult for some people to seek help for mental health problems.  Not seeking mental health care can prevent people from feeling better, being productive in their daily lives, and being involved in t ..read more

The Women’s Center team is gearing up to host our Annual Gala, a night filled with inspiration, friendship, and the drive to make a difference.   For nearly two decades, The Women’s Center has relied on the Gala to help support a vital cause – ensuring that mental health care is accessible to everyone. This event is one of the prominent ways that The Center connects with local leaders and donors to raise funds, celebrate successes, and drive awareness. The Women’s Center is rapidly approaching the 50th anniversary of serving the DMV community. We were founded in 1974 and have been growin ..read more

Diving Into the Hidden Impact of Loneliness This month’s blog focuses on loneliness and social isolation based on an interview with Anita Maina, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist at The Women’s Center’s Washington, D.C. office.   Loneliness can affect anyone. While individual experiences with loneliness can vary, the effects can be profound and wide-ranging. Loneliness and social isolation are considered by many, including the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to be one of the most significant public health challenges in the U.S. According to th ..read more

This month’s topic for our ongoing series highlighting the breadth of services offered by The Women’s Center highlights Career Services. These programs are aligned with The Center’s comprehensive approach to supporting mental health and wellness in our community.  The subject-matter-expertise for this month’s blog comes courtesy of Laura Winkler:   Whatever our vocation may be, our work lives are important. Many of us spend significant amounts of time working, and, beyond the obvious benefits of having a good job and a successful career, our work and personal lives are intertwi ..read more

Motherhood ignites a woman’s soul and fuels her every breath as she nurtures life that is not her own with a depth of sacrifice and devotion that knows no bounds. It is unrelenting, fiery, tender, beautiful, and challenging all at once.   “Motherhood brings as much joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality, especially while you struggle to keep your own.” – Marguerite Kelly.   As we celebrate Mot ..read more