About WMHA
Helen L. Coons, Ph.D., ABPP is the President and Clinical Director of Women’s Mental Health Associates. Dr. Coons is a Clinical Psychologist and a board certified Clinical Health Psychologist who specializes women’s health and mental health. She is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, and is Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System. Dr. Coons received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University in 1990 after interning in Medical Psychology at the Duke University Medical Center. She was also a 2005 DHHS Primary Health Care Policy Fellow.
Dr. Coons’ private practice rotates to women’s primary care, obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive endocrinology, oncology and urogynecology settings. She specializes in the interdisciplinary care of women across the life span with health, mental health, relational, sexual, family and professional concerns. Dr. Coons’ consultation and treatment promotes recovery and resilience in women and couples coping with: depression, anxiety, panic disorder and PTSD; pregnancy and post-partum mood disorders, loss and complications; fertility challenges; difficulties with PMS, PCOS and menopause; weight related issues; poor self esteem and body image; histories of trauma; professional concerns and transitions; sexual difficulties such as low desire and pain; chronic and life-threatening medical conditions; chronic pain; early and advanced cancer as well as post-treatment effects; high cancer risk; caregiver and bereavement/loss issues; hearing and voice difficulties; and anxiety about invasive medical procedures.
Dr. Coons is a dynamic speaker known locally and nationally for her interactive presentations to community, corporate and professional audiences and to psychologists, physicians and other health and mental health providers. Keynotes, workshops, grand rounds and continuing education programs focus on sexual concerns in women; depression during pregnancy, post-partum, menopause and in older women; stress management and work-life integration strategies; illness and relationships; coping with early and advanced breast, gynecologic and other types of cancer; empowering women with chronic and life threatening medical conditions; fertility in women with medical conditions; reducing irritability and rumination; dating when you are single and have cancer; enhancing work-place well-being, and delivering bad news to patients and families. She also enjoys translating psychological science to community audiences through varied media including TV, radio, internet, web cast and magazine articles.
A Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Dr. Coons has held several leadership roles in the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Health Psychology. She was chair of the Division 38 Committee on Women and Health from 1989-1992 and 1998-1999; Chair, Continuing Education Committee from 2004-2007; and served as the Course Director for the 2005 Clinical Health Psychology Institute on Women’s Health. In addition, she served on the planning committee for three major APA interdisciplinary conferences (1994, 1996, 2002) on women’s health as well as the 2000 summit on women and depression. Dr. Coons is presently on the Division 42 Task Force on Health Care for the Whole Person; the vice-chair of the APA Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP), and is Chair, CWP Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Planning Committee.
Dr. Coons received the 2001 American Psychological Association (APA) Committee on Women in Psychology Emerging Leader Award as well as the 2005 American Psychological Foundation and APA Division of Health Psychology Timothy B. Jeffrey Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Health Psychology.
Dr. Coons provides individual, couples and sex therapy as well as workshops in several Center City and Suburban locations. To contact her, call 215-732-5590.