Men, Intimacy, and Shame workshop with James Hawes Part 2

In this workshop we will be exploring intimacy, shame and masculinity. For many men therapy is a unique, unusual and ultimately an intiMATE space

This is a 3-Part workshop

Talking about feelings can be awkward, exposing and risks vulnerability leading to a psychological intimacy. Therapy can be successful due to the meeting of ‘intimate strangers’. Often this psychological intimacy can generate closeness, sexual fantasy and vulnerability in the male client and the male or female therapist.

The Male code and social conditioning of masculinity including the ‘Real Man’ discourse is the vehicle that shames many men and ultimately generates the ‘Trauma of emotional restriction. In turn this sense of shame and the ‘Man rules’ constricts men’s expression of intimacy. Men are then often just left with sex as their only way of showing intimacy.

This workshop will create a space where as therapists we can begin to openly explore the connection between shame and intimacy and how to work with these powerful emotions with our clients.

Within this day workshop we will seek to explore the following:

· What does intimacy mean to men, how do they show it and how do we help develop it

· Developing a greater understanding about shame and it’s link to intimacy

· Exploring the ‘The male code’ and it’s impact on emotional restriction, intimacy and shame

· Effective ways in working with men and shame

· Discussing how the therapist manages intimacy and shame in the room

Feedback from previous workshops

‘Greedy for more!’

‘Brilliant – your enthusiasm for the subject is infectious’

‘I came with high expectations – they were exceeded!

The whole thing was fab – I learnt so much, Thank you!