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Edd Conboy, MS, MFT

Program Director, Avenue of the Arts office
Staff Therapist, University City office 215-382-6680 ext. 4313

Edd is not your typical therapist. He combines his training and real world business experience in his effort to help clients get unstuck and create new pathways in their lives. Edd also works with individuals whose normal stress has advanced into a state of distress, supporting them as they move into effective action, and begin to sustain joy in their lives as they strive to attain their life goals.

A seasoned therapist with more than twenty years experience in the field, Edd has worked as a coach and consultant to bring the skills, knowledge and expertise of the psychotherapeutic community into non-traditional settings in addition to his work as a private practitioner. While working with people from all walks of life - from business, community and non-profit leaders to inner-city youth, he is particularly effective working with a wide range of individuals facing unique stresses like those of world-class professional and amateur athletes, survivors of trauma, as well as couples with chronically ill children.

A significant part of his experience has involved coaching individuals who work and live under enormous pressure and excel in highly stressful settings - hi-tech companies in Silicon Valley, international law firms, non-profit organizations, federal agencies and philanthropic foundations.

Often working with complex cases involving such issues as those related to post-traumatic stress and paranormal experiences, Edd strives to create an atmosphere that is compassionate and affirming. When appropriate, his work with clients is energetic, goal-directed, brief and highly focused. He strives to stay attuned to his clients’ concerns and helps them develop effective strategies for living full, meaningful lives.

Edd has also designed and implemented leadership development programs for young emerging leaders in public-benefit organizations, as well as social-emotional intelligence and compassionate listening trainings.

Prior to developing his consulting practice, Edd worked in the performance psychology field helping elite athletes and their coaches manage the many stressors - both on and off the field - that came into play as they prepared for major competitions. These clients included several world champion professional athletes, All-American collegiate athletes, and younger competitors and their families in a wide variety of athletic settings. He has also worked with musicians and other performing artists deal with the pressures that come with being on stage. Experiences with these clients taught him that, although the settings are quite different, most successful performers develop the capacity to create positive, personal narratives that foster success. In addition he has learned that many of these traits are available to individuals who do not live and work in the public arenas.

Edd completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, and completed his graduate work in Counseling Psychology with a dual emphasis in Family Therapy and School Counseling at San Francisco State University. His training also included a year of post-master's studies in Family Therapy at the California School of Professional Psychology in Berkeley, California.

In 2006 Edd was designated a Fellow with The Whitman Institute in San Francisco, California.

As part of the council’s Community Partnership Initiative, Edd divides his time between the University City Office and the council’s new Avenue of the Arts Office at Broad Street Ministry where he directs their counseling services.

Edd Conboy, MS, MFT can be reached at 215-382-6680 ext. 4313, or by email at: econboy@CouncilForRelationships.org.

Tip of the Week Articles Written by Edd Conboy, MS, MFT:

• Firebirds and Feathers: Boys Becoming Men
• Tips for Parents of Children with Epilepsy
• Parenting the "Gifted Perfomer"

Media Engagements by Edd Conboy, MS, MFT:

• CBS 3 News - Resolutions
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT talks about New Year's resolutions. 1/2/12

• CBS 3 News - PTSD Warning For Soldiers Returning Home From The Battlefield
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT talks about Operation Home & Healing, and helping returning Veterans. 12/22/11

• Northeast Times Star - Healing Wonded Minds
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT is interviewed about CFR's Operation Home & Healing - helping veterans and their loved ones. 11/9/11

• The Intelligencer - Use Your GPS to Track Your Spouse
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT is interviewed about the use of a GPS to track your spouse. 7/8/11

• Philadelphia Magazine - How Does Your Marriage Stack Up?
  Rita DeMaria, PhD, Edd Conboy, MS, MFT, and Ken Maguire, PsyD weigh in on how today's couples are dealing with a whole different set of issues than their parents, from Facebook-stalking to who gets to pick the love seat. Can marriage survive it? 5/27/11

• CW Philly Morning News - Self Care During the Holidays
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT, about coping with your loved ones (and not so loved ones) during the holiday season...a great segment on good self-care. 12/13/10

• NBC 10! Show - How to Cope with an Empty Nest
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT, shares ways to embrace the transition of children leaving home for college. 8/31/10

• CN8: It's Your Call With Lynn Doyle
  Workplace Horror Stories - Part One | Workplace Horror Stories - Part Two | Workplace Horror Stories - Part Three |
  Edd Conboy, MS, MFT joins a panel discussion to talk about disgruntled workers. 8/28/10

• MyFoxPhilly.com - Gosselins Will Divorce
  Council for Relationships therapist, Edd Conboy, discusses Jon and Kate and the steep price of fame. 6/18/09

Publications:

• The Emotionally Intelligent Therapist: Using EQ, Assessment, and Coaching to Enhance the Therapeutic Alliance. (Emotional Intelligence)Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association; Dec 22, 2004; Ellis, Ross Conboy, Edd

• Healing the Wounded Organization: A Role for Psychotherapists? (Emotional Intelligence) Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association; Mar 22, 2005; Ellis, Ross Conboy, Edd