You’ve probably worked with men who’ve been dragged, kicking and screaming, into therapy by their partners. But how do you work with a client who doesn’t want to be there in the first place—especially if his sense of grandiosity is in the ascendant?

Terry Real—founder of the Relational Life Institute—explains that the key to working with these clients is leverage. In this clip, he uses an example from his own high-stakes couples work to explain how you can gain and use leverage with your reluctant male clients.

Terry Real founded the Relational Life Institute and is Good Morning, America's relationship expert. His books include The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work.

TERRENCE REAL, LICSW

Terry Real

Terry Real, LICSW, is an internationally recognized couples therapist, speaker, author, and founder of the Relational Life Institute (RLI). His latest bestseller is Us: How to Get Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship. He's also the author of I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression (Scribner), the straight-talking How Can I Get Through to You? Reconnecting Men and Women, and The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work.

Rich Simon

Rich Simon

Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day. 

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