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Fish Out of Water: Exploring Cultural and Developmental Factors Impacting Men’s Participation in Therapy

Virtual
On Demand
2 CE Hours On Demand
Clinical
Free

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Location

  • On Demand
    Sessions will be available On-Demand
Description

The therapeutic environment and approach are rooted in values traditionally associated with femininity, such as compassion, empathy, vulnerability, and understanding. This setting encourages individuals to openly express their feelings, emotions, and struggles. However, the emphasis on vulnerability often conflicts with societal and cultural expectations of masculinity, where vulnerability is synonymous with weakness. Generally, men struggle in therapy because they were not taught or encouraged to develop emotional intelligence-based skills during their development as boys, and this hampers their ability to connect deeply with partners, family, friends, and particularly in therapeutic settings (Levant, 2017; Wexler, 2009; David & Brannon, 1976). As a result, they may feel like fish out of water on the therapist’s couch. To effectively work with men in therapy, clinicians should strive for a culturally sensitive understanding of the various factors influencing male identity development. This understanding will enable them to approach and engage with men. By comprehending the nuances of male identity development, clinicians can better approach and effectively work with men and create a therapeutic space that resonates with male clients and facilitates theirgrowth and healing, even those who are resistant or reluctant.

Target Audience
  • • Social Worker
  • • Psychologist
  • • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • • Counselor
  • • Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to increase knowledge about the developmental and societal pressures placed on men, which can inhibit their ability to engage in therapy.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify and explain three or more developmental, cultural, or socialization processes that impede the emotional growth of boys and subsequently impact their development as men.

  • Define and describe the concepts of masculinity, "boy code," masculine gender role stress (MGRS), normative male alexithymia (NMA), male-type depression (covert depression), and Nice Guy Syndrome.

  • Identify one or more clinically appropriate and culturally sensitive ways to 1) approach men 2) facilitate effective engagement and 3) overcome resistance in a clinical setting.

  • Describe three ways to establish an inviting clinical environment for men.

References

  • Levant, R. F., Good, G. E., Cook, S. W., O'Neil, J. M., Smalley, K. B., Owen, K., & Richmond, K. (2007). The Normative Male Alexithymia Scale: Measurement of a gender-linked syndrome: Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 8(3), 199–200.

  • Levant, R. F. (2001). Desperately seeking language: understanding, assessing and treating normative male alexithymia in GR Brooks & GE Good, the New Handbook of psychotherapy and counseling with men. San Francisco.

  • Levit, D. B. (1991). Gender differences in ego defenses in adolescence: Sex roles as one way to understand the differences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(6), 992–999.

  • Wong, Y. J., Ho, M. R., Wang, S. Y., & Miller, I. S. (2017). Meta-analyses of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and mental health-related outcomes. Journal of counseling psychology, 64(1), 80–93.

Introductory
Clinical
Social Worker

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0654.

TPN.health, #1766, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/31/2022 – 03/31/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical continuing education credits.

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LCSWs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Psychologist

Trusted Provider Network is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Trusted Provider Network maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Marriage & Family Therapist

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0097.

This workshop meets the requirements and has been approved for 2 hours for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists in Louisiana by the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Counselor

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0220.

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LPCCs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LPCCs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

TPN.health has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7267. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. TPN.health is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Substance Use Disorder Professionals

This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programming.This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programing. Counselor Skill Group: Legal, Ethical and Professional Development

CE Policy
This course is fiscally sponsored by Futures Recovery Healthcare. There may be potential biases or conflicts of interest inherent to this relationship, and it must be disclosed to participants. These conflicts of interest have no bearing on the course content and have been resolved.
  • Waiting Room Opens
  • Workshop Begins
  • 5 Minute Break
    -
  • Workshop Ends
Note: Time designated for waiting room, breaks cannot be counted toward CE credit.
Phillip Treiber, LMHC, MCAP, CCATP, NCC

Phil holds multiple licenses and certifications, including Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Masters-level Certified Addictions Professional (MCAP) in the state of Florida, National Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), and National Certified Counselor (NCC). He graduated Summa cum laude from Lynn University in 2020 and was the first student in the mental health counseling program to be chosen as the graduate speaker at the 2020 commencement. During his time in school, Phil gained experience as a clinical case manager in a detox facility, facilitated IOP groups, and worked as an individual case manager for clients with thought disorders. He presented at a national conference and contributed to a case-study book published for undergraduate psychology students. After graduation, Phil worked as a primary therapist at a dual diagnosis mental health/substance abuse treatment center, where he focused on substance abuse, anxiety, trauma, and severe mental health and played a key role in developing the clinical detox manual and programming. As a consultant, he helped implement programming across multiple states during a period of expansion. In 2022, Phil left his job and founded Dude, Breathe Counseling, a private group practice dedicated to addressing men’s mental health issues. Phil has devoted significant time and effort over the last three years to studying men’s mental health. He has completed multiple trainings, conducted his own research, and crafted a distinctive approach to working with men. He has been featured on multiple podcasts speaking about men’s issues and is in the process of developing a culturally competent training program for mental health professionals and organizations. Phil has spoken numerous times about men’s mental health and issues for local universities and professional organizations. Phil’s goal is to spread accurate information about men’s mental health struggles, break down stigmas, and encourage men to seek the help they need to overcome their challenges.

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