A New Psychotherapy for Traditional Men / Edition 1

by Gary R. Brooks

Overview

Breaking down the barriers

Most men are trained from earliest childhood to suppressemotional distress, to avoid the subtle signals of interpersonalconflicts, to experience humiliation at the first hint of failure,and most of all, to resist asking for help. In this much-neededbook, Gary Brooks shares his experience of working with resistantmale clients and shows how to overcome this resistance and achievepositive results. Brooks reveals how compassion, respect, empathy,and sensitivity to men's defenses help break down barriers and makethem amenable to the therapeutic process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787941239
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/24/1998
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.49(h) x 0.93(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

1. The Contemporary Crisis of Masculinity: Why Men NeedPsychotherapy.

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.

Editorial Reviews

"A comprehensive, scholarly volume brimming with clinical insightinto the hearts and minds of the traditional blue-collar men he soadroitly treats. . . .offers not only a guide, but inspiration andhope that men whose lives have been badly damaged-men who arelikely to be considered poor risks for therapy-can find significanthelp in the therapy relationship." (Ronald F. Levant, dean, Centerfor Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University)

"Carefully weaving the psychological literature together withglimpses into real men's lives, Gary Brooks creates a tapestry ofthe finew man' that is at once honest, poignant, and our hope forthe future. Millions of men's and women's lives will be enriched byreading this book. I already have a number of traditional men on mygift list." (Lenore Walker, author of The Abused Woman and TheBattered Woman)

"This wonderful book is filled with wisdom and compassion. Itshould be required reading for anyone doing psychotherapy with men;it should be required reading for anyone who is in a relationshipwith a man! It is clear, sensitive, incisive. In a time of genderstrife and misunderstanding, Dr. Brooks provides a beacon of hope."(Judith V. Jordan, assistant professor of psychiatry, HarvardMedical School and training director, Stone Center, WelleslyCollege)

From the Publisher

Maps a strategy for engaging therapy-resistant men in the process of healing their psychological pain. Acknowledging that traditional men are often reluctant to confront their emotions and admit to vulnerability, advocates the use of empathy, gender-aware therapy, and sensitivity to men's unique cultural positioning to further the therapeutic process. Specifically addresses individual, group, family, and marital therapy techniques. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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