A New Psychotherapy For Traditional Men

Breaking down the barriers

Most men are trained from earliest childhood to suppress emotional distress, to avoid the subtle signals of interpersonal conflicts, to experience humiliation at the first hint of failure, and most of all, to resist asking for help. In this much-needed book, Gary Brooks shares his experience of working with resistant male clients and shows how to overcome this resistance and achieve positive results. Brooks reveals how compassion, respect, empathy, and sensitivity to men's defenses help break down barriers and make them amenable to the therapeutic process.

GARY R. BROOKS is the chief of psychology service at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas and former president of Division 51?the Society for Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity?of the American Psychological Association. He is an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences with the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, adjunct faculty member at Baylor University, and instructor of men's studies with Texas Women's University.

Introduction.

1. The Contemporary Crisis of Masculinity: Why Men Need Psychotherapy.

2. Why Traditional Men Hate Psychotherapy.

3. Core Elements.

4. Doing Men's Groups That Work.

5. Marital and Family Therapy.

6. Therapist Gender.

7. Gender Role Strain in Therapy and Beyond.

References.