Engaging Men in Psychotherapy (DVD)

The APA Psychotherapy Stimulus Series video Engaging Men in Psychotherapy presents selected scenes of distinguished psychologists working with male clients. Therapy with men can present special challenges. Many men enter therapy because something or someone - a concerned partner or even a court order - has pushed them to seek help. Even if a man enters therapy on his own, his experience there may be different from that of a female client, as many men are socialized to fear core components of the therapeutic process: the language of feelings, the disclosure of vulnerability, and the admission of dependency needs.

Therapists may wonder how they can be effective with men when it seems many are reluctant to be in psychotherapy, uncomfortable with the process, and quick to avoid emotional exploration. The vignettes on this video have been carefully selected by Matt Englar-Carlson, an expert on men and masculinity, to stimulate discussion of ways to engage men in therapeutic settings. Designed for clinical training, this video is appropriate for workshops or individual study for the professional development of practicing clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, counselors, and graduate students. Bonus track: As an alternative to watching the vignettes and answering stimulus questions, there is a menu option in which viewers may choose to watch a discussion with Matt Englar-Carlson as he comments on each vignette and answers questions about how best to meet the challenges male clients present. Dr. Englar-Carlson discusses the importance of building a therapeutic relationship, ways to make men feel comfortable in therapy, the use of humor, and how to encourage deeper emotional expression. This fascinating and informative interview may be used in place of the stimulus questions, or may be watched after viewers have reflected on and answered the questions. This video features real clients in real therapy sessions.