Home > Staff & Locations > Staff Biographies

Stephen R. Treat, DMin, LMFT

Senior Therapist, University City Philadelphia & Spring House, PA
CEO Emeritus
215-382-6680 ext. 3123

Dr. Stephen R. Treat is a Senior Therapist and former Director and CEO of Council for Relationships, the nation’s oldest and largest counseling agency. In his role as CEO, he managed the running of 14 clinical offices throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, numerous professional and public educational programs, and his own busy clinical practice at CFR. Dr. Treat continues to see clients, teach at Thomas Jefferson University, consult with family businesses. He is an in-demand speaker, consultant and media expert. He can be seen regularly on local television programs such as NBC10’s 10! Show, CBS3’s Talk Philly, and local news programs. He has appeared on national television shows, such as the Today Show. He’s also been featured on numerous radio programs, and is often quoted for newspaper and magazine articles.

Dr. Treat works with individuals, couples, families and businesses to foster an understanding of how those systems work and how they can improve. Additionally, he speaks and consults with universities, schools, religious organizations and non-profits.

Dr. Treat received his doctorate from the Andover Newton Theological Seminary in 1976. He completed post-doctoral work in Human Sexuality at the University of Pennsylvania and the Marriage and Family Therapy Training Program at Council for Relationships in 1981. He is licensed to practice marriage and family therapy in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to being an instructor in Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Thomas Jefferson University Medical College, he is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counseling, a member of the American Family Therapy Association, and Associate of the Institute for Family Enterprising at the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College, MA.

Dr. Treat has co-authored two books, Pastoral Marital Therapy and Couples in Treatment: Techniques and Approaches for Effective Practice. In addition, he has published numerous book chapters and articles on process and content of marital and family therapy.

Stephen Treat, DMin, LMFT can be reached at 215-382-6680 ext. 3123.

Tip of the Week Articles Written By Stephen Treat, DMin, LMFT:

• Couples and Fighting, Part 1
• Couples and Fighting, Part 2
• Relationship Rescue - A Simple Way to Start
• A Meaningful Quest
• Two Critical Questions to Help Your Relationship
• Adult Children, Parents and History
  How To Create More Understanding and Intimacy in Your Life

Media Engagements by Stephen Treat, DMin:

• 6ABC Action News - Holiday Traditions
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about the importance of holiday traditions for children. 11/21/11

• NBC 10 News - Empty Nest? Save Your Marriage
  Dr. Stephen Treat shares helpful advice on how to put life back into your marriage after the kids leave the house.. 9/7/11

• NBC 10 News - Marriage Advice
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses marriage in a Father's Day article. 6/19/11

• NBC 10! Show - Technology and Relationships
  Dr. Stephen Treat shares advice for those suffering from technology addiction. 4/3/11

• Philadelphia Inquirer - How To Tend a Marriage
  Dr. Stephen Treat offers some insight into how to keep a marriage alive and exciting. 3/2/11

• NBC 10! Show - Intervention 101
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about helping a loved one with addiction. 2/20/11

• Rodale Press' The Hartford - Embrace Your Empty Nest
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses reinventing your life after the kids leave the house. 1/31/11

• NBC 10! Show - Stress-Free Holidays
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about getting through the holidays with minimal stress. 12/21/10

• CBS 3 News - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about sadness & depression during this time of year. 12/13/10

• CBS 3 News - Changing Bad Habits
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses changing bad habits. 12/2/10

• Quality Health - Facing Your Retirement Fears
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses how to overcome your fears of retirement. 12/2/10

• NBC 10 News - Why Men Cheat
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses infidelity and the Eva Longoria and Tony Parker split. 11/16/10

• CBS 3 News - Study: Marriage Could Become Obsolete
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about a new study that reveals attitudes about marriage becoming obsolete. 11/16/10

• NBC 10! Show - Take The Stress Out Of The Holidays
  Dr. Stephen Treat gives us 4 simple ways to get through the holidays. 11/8/10

• NBC 10 News - Why Do Couples Always Seem to Argue in the Car?
  Dr. Stephen Treat comments on couples arguing in the car. 8/27/10

• NBC 10! Show - The Benefits of Counseling
  Dr. Stephen Treat explains why pre-marital and post-marital counseling can keep your marriage from ending in divorce. 7/8/10

• NBC 10! Show - How to Make this Summer Meaningful
  Dr. Stephen Treat shares tips for making the most of your summer. 6/14/10

• NBC 10! Show - What To Say To Your Kids at Graduation
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of the Council for Relationships, explains how to talk to your children as they grow up. 6/11/10

• NBC's TODAY Show - Happiness at 50
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses a new study which shows that happiness begins at 50. 5/25/10

• NBC 10 News - How to Treat Your Jobless Partner
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses that while you may only be trying to help your jobless partner, you may be doing more harm than good. 5/3/10

• NBC 10 News - Do You Have a Digital Addiction?
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses a new study that likens digital device and internet overuse to drug and alcohol addiction. 4/28/10

• PhillyBurbs.com - Surviving Infidelity
  Dr. Stephen Treat discusses what is required for a couple to survive infidelity. 4/9/10

• NBC 10! Show - Staging a Comeback
  Dr. Stephen Treat talks about ways to redeem your relationship with helpful tips on how to make amends. 3/18/10

• NBC 10! Show - Inside the Mind of An Olympian
  Dr. Stephen Treat is here to help us get inside the minds of the Olympians and find out what it takes to be the very best. 2/19/10

• NBC 10! Show - Talking to Your Children About Haiti (and other tragedies)
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses strategies for talking to your kids about the tragedy in Haiti and how it is affecting them personally. 1/22/10

• NBC 10! Show - How to Prevent Infidelity
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, explains why infidelity is so huge among celebrities right now, such as Tiger Woods, and what you can do to prevent infidelity from occurring in your relationship. 12/3/09

• Philadelphia Neighborhoods.com - Veterans Day 2009
  CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses Veterans and some healthy ways they can begin to recover from the invisible wounds of war. 11/11/09

• NBC 10! Show - Avoiding a Bitter Divorce
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, offers advice on what steps to take when a split goes bad. 10/9/09

• Philadelphia Business Journal - Stephen R. Treat: ‘Be fair and forthright.’
  CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat is profiled in the Philadelphia Business Journal. 9/25/09

• KYW Newsradio - New Empty Nesters Finding It Tougher to Let Go
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses why it's so hard for today's parents to let go. 9/16/09

• KYW Newsradio - Mental Health Expert Weighs In on Recent Celebrity Deaths
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, comments on how the recent number of celebrity deaths may affect some people. 6/29/09

• NBC 10! Show - Why People Cheat
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, shares important reasons that lead people to infidelity. 6/25/09

• WHYY Radio: The Mental Health of Soldiers, Veterans & Their Loved Ones (.mp3 file)
  CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses the challenges that returning military members and their loved ones face, as they return from war. For more information on how to get help for yourself or for loved ones, please visit CFR's Operation Home and Healing website. 6/10/09

• NBC 10! Show - Strengthening the The Mother-Daughter Bond
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses some tips to keep that mother/daughter bond alive and well through the years. 5/5/09

• NBC 10! Show - When Is It Time to Grow Up?
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses issues on growing up! Do we have to? Do we need to? And if so when and why? 5/4/09

• NBC 10! Show - How to Get Your Kids (of any age) to Listen
  Relationship expert and CEO of Council for Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, offers expert advice and tips to get your kids to finally listen. 4/21/09

• NBC 10! Show - Getting the Love You Want
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, offers tips for singles and couples on how to get the love that we want. 2/10/09

• NBC 10! Show - Sexual Healing: Communication is Key
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, explains why communication is an important part in your sexual relationship. 2/4/09

• NBC 10! Show - Breaking Bad Habits
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, talks about breaking bad family habits. 1/13/09

• NBC 10! Show - The Art of Reinventing Yourself
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, gives tips on reinventing yourself for the new year. 1/6/09

• NBC 10! Show - Reconciling
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, gives advice on forgiving family members to get through the holidays. 12/23/08

• NPR Radio: AirTalk Program
  Complicated Families And The Holidays
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, discusses how to manage the challenges of reuniting families, long-distance travel, different religious traditions and how to enjoy the holidays in spite of them. 12/22/08

• NBC 10! Show - Give a Meaningful Gift
  CEO of Council For Relationships, Dr. Stephen Treat, offers ideas on how to give someone the best present ever. 12/16/08

• NBC 10! Show - The Importance of Giving Thanks
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, gives advice on expressing thanks to the special people in your life. 11/25/08

• NBC 10! Show - Election Day Nerves
  Election Day is here and everyone is anticipating the winner. Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, explains how to deal with the nerves that come along with the election. 11/4/08

• NBC 10! Show - Anticipating Defeat?
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, discusses how to deal with your feelings if you are anticipating a Phillies defeat or maybe your chosen candidate to lose in the election. 10/28/08

• NBC 10! Show - Voting Differences
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, offers advice on how to discuss politics with friends and family who may not share the same views you do. 10/21/08

• KYW 1060 News Radio - Reducing Our Stress Level
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, offers advice on how to reduce the stress people are feeling as a result of the economic crisis. 10/10/08

• WHYY Radio - How to Disagree with Family and Friends about Politics
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, offers ideas on how to discuss politics when you don't agree with your family and friends. 10/2/08

• NBC 10! Show - Managing Stress in Uncertain Financial Times
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, talks about ways to manage stress during times of financial uncertainty. 9/23/08

• KYW 1060 News Radio - The Emotional Health of American Children
  KYW's Michelle Durham spoke with Dr. Stephen Treat, CEO of Council For Relationships, about the results of a study done by the National Center for Health Statistics. 9/15/08

• NBC 10! Show - How to Make Peace With the Past
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, discusses how to make peace with the past. 8/26/08

• NBC 10! Show - Kids and Role Models
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, talks about how children can find heroes in ordinary people. 8/5/08

• NBC 10! Show - Love and Money in Relationships
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, discusses love and money in relationships. 7/29/08

• NBC 10! Show - He's Just Not That Into You: The Fear of Commitment
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's Director and CEO, discusses how to recognize and overcome the fear of commitment. 7/8/08

• NBC 10! Show - Infidelity
  Dr. Stephen Treat, CFR's CEO & Director, shares some tips on making peace when a couple faces infidelity. 5/6/08

• NBC 10 All That and More - Tips for a Healthy Marriage
  CFR Director & CEO, Dr. Stephen Treat offers tips for a healthy marriage and a link to a Compatibility Quiz. 2/07

• NBC Today Show - Prepare Your Marriage for Retirement
  "Dr. Stephen Treat, the director and CEO of the Council for Relationships, talks with "Today" host Matt Lauer about the ups and downs couples face when they retire." 3/15/05