7 Key Tips for Working Successfully with Men in Therapy with James Hawes

More men than ever are attending therapy and asking for help with mental health problems and yet while therapy may offer a supportive environment many men are turned off by this ‘foreign’ environment. When men do attend, they can occasionally encounter a lack of understanding and empathy leaving them confused and unsure whether to return.

Gender socialization and stigma often prevents men from seeking support, many men have learnt that to show vulnerable emotions is weak and shameful. This process has taught them to restrict these emotions. The unwritten ‘male rules’ have resulted in men living with inner dis-ease contributing to the following issues:

• Three-quarters of suicides in the UK are by men
• Men are far less likely than women to seek help with medical problems.
• Depression occurs as often in men as in women, but women are twice as likely to be diagnosed and treated.
• One in nine adult men is dependent on alcohol; men are three times more likely than women to be alcohol dependent.

The training will include:

• Increase understanding about the impact of traditional masculinity, man-up culture and the male code often leaving men with the trauma of emotional restraint
• Toolbox of ideas in developing successful therapeutic work with men, building rapport, making psychological contact and building their emotional fitness.
• Effective psycho-educational tools to help men increase their emotional fitness, emotional awareness and regulation.
• Gaining a greater understanding about a man’s emotional world, his emotional development, defences and coping strategies

About our speaker

James Hawes is a psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer and author of 'The Secret Lives of Men - 10 keys to unlock the mystery'.

He is an experienced therapist with extensive knowledge in working with men, women, couples and adolescents. He specialises in working with men and boys who often struggle to express a full range of emotions. His work includes developing boys’ and men’s emotional fitness using psych-educational tools, de-shaming, and core conditions of the Person Centred approach.

James initiated the Men@work voluntary organisation and developed SHOUT - a successful anger awareness programme for men. He has been part of men’s groups for the past 15 years.

He is also the co-founder of emotional-gym.com releasing regular weekly podcasts.

James lives in Nottingham, with his wife and two teenage boys.