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Saturday Workshops

409 509 Shame-O-Phobia Part 1 & Part 2: The Terrible Secret of Male Shame

and the fear of shame--which existentially threatens their sense of manhood. In this workshop, we’ll explore why men are socially, psychologically, and neurobiologically more prone to shame than women, and how men’s fear of shame influences their behavior and emotional lives. You’ll learn how to create an environment that engages male clients, rather than frightening them away. You’ll discover how to explain the goals of therapy in “guy talk,” how to use self-disclosure to reduce a man’s fear of everything therapeutic, and why concrete information and straightforward guidance--homework, action plans, clear-cut explanations--are more reassuring than vague, non-directional “therapy-speak.” You’ll learn to recognize and honor the genuine “relational heroism” of men who take the uncomfortable, awkward, even frightening path to self-understanding by being in your office in the first place. (This session will continue with Workshop 509.)

David Wexler, Ph.D., executive director of the Relationship Training Institute, is the author of five books, including Men in Therapy: New Approaches for Effective Treatment.