Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP
Chair for the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Executive Committee
Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP, is the Chair for the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Executive Committee and is the President and Clinical Director of Women’s Mental Health Associates, Philadelphia. Dr. Coons is a Clinical Psychologist and board certified Clinical Health Psychologist who specializes in 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 PhD in Clinical Psychology from Temple University in 1990 after interning in Medical Psychology at the Duke University Medical Center. In 2005, she represented the American Psychological Association at the DHHS Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship.
Dr. Coons’ independent practice rotates weekly 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 related mood disorders; pregnancy 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 issues; hearing and voice difficulties; and anxiety about invasive medical procedures.
Dr. Coons enjoys translating psychological science to community audiences through varied media including TV, radio, internet, web cast and magazine articles. She is a dynamic speaker known locally and nationally for her interactive presentations to community and professional audiences and to psychologists, physicians and other health and mental health providers. Keynotes, workshops, grand rounds and continuing education programs focus on a host of issues affecting women and families across the life span.
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). She was chair of the Division of Health Psychology (38) Committee on Women and Health from 1989-92 and 1998-99; Chair, Division 38 Continuing Education Committee from 2004-07; and served as the Course Director for the 2005 Clinical Health Psychology Institute on Women’s Health. In addition, she was 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 also served on the Division 42 Task Force on Health Care for the Whole Person as well as the APA Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) from 2006-08. Dr. Coons is the founding chair of the CWP Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Planning Committee; and also serves on APA’s Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (2009-present); the 2010 APA President’s Task Force on Advancing Practice, and will represent the APA Division of Health Psychology on the Council of Representatives from 2010-12.
Policy activities at the national, state and local level have allowed Dr. Coons to support collaborations across psychology, medicine, nursing and public health. She was on the Philadelphia EMA HIV Planning Commission and Care Committee (1996-2000); invited member of the Health Care Committee, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence (1998-1999); invited presenter at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Cancer Policy Board, 2002 meeting on Psychosocial Services for Women with Breast Cancer; appointed to SAMHSA’s Advisory Committee for Women’s Services from 2003-2007; and invited participant in the November, 2004 Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH, discussion on Five Year Goals as well as the December, 2005 Surgeon General’s Working Meeting on Women’s Mental Health. Recent policy activities focus on advocating for mental health services as an integral part of national heath care reform.
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.
