MEN’S GROUP

This group helps men support each other in dispelling some of the modern myths about what a “Man” is.  These myths include ideas like “Asking for help is weak,” “Everything is a competition,” “Perfection is mandatory,” “Sex and money equate to meaning,” and “Vulnerability isn’t masculine.”  They also include distorted mentalities like “Aggression is bad” and “Conquests are for cavemen.” 

Men crave the hunt – on the football field; in romance; in the boardroom; or the private victory of overcoming a fear, no matter if that’s climbing Everest or writing poetry.  This drive to best a formidable foe, to succeed against all odds has been in our DNA from our earliest days.  It is not something to be repressed or shamed.  It is healthy and masculine.  It only becomes unhealthy when it begins to rule the thoughts and emotions of our inner lives and wreak destruction in our outer ones.

This occurs when we compensate for internal feelings of “not being enough” by chasing prestige and external validation.  This can take the form of toxic masculinity; workaholism; narcissism; exhibitionism; voyeurism; conquests of sex, money, power, and physical prowess.  But because they are false replacements, they can never satiate us, leading to an unending, frustrating pursuit.

Men depend on meaningful social connection with other men.  Through relationships with others who share a similar experience of life’s struggles, joys, and confusions in the most fundamental of tribes, we truly feel seen and supported. But there’s a reason “I Love You, Man” was funny: Because it resonated deeply. Connecting with other men is hard. While we have many outlets for bonding with other men – from sports to work to Vegas – we often lack the emotional literacy to understand, let alone express, our need for true connection which lies underneath these activities.

This group acts as a foundation to begin that journey.

Each weekly, virtual meeting offers a space for men to process whatever is on their minds, as well as exploring topics such as:

  • Defining what it means to be a “Man”

  • Exploring and embracing healthy aggression

  • How to connect with your emotional self

  • Addictive behaviors (substance abuse, porn, workaholism, perpetual conquests, hyper-competitiveness, etc.)