Many young men are struggling.  Through their teenage years, they feel increasingly socially and emotionally isolated as they try to make sense of what it means to be a man. Over time, this isolation weakens their confidence, and their relationships and academic performance suffer as a result.  Rather than finding ways to stay connected, many young men are coping with the pressure through emotional withdrawal in the form of video games or substance abuse, or developing symptoms of depression and anxiety, leaving them without the tools needed to relate to others in positive and authentic ways. 

Emotional awareness and expression is becoming increasingly necessary to thrive in today's society, and yet many boys are unprepared and unpracticed in these areas.  This is partly due to a deficit of support structures to help them overcome the stigma around having emotional and relational needs. Vulnerability remains conflated with weakness among men and boys.  The aim of this group is to provide the space and opportunity to practice connecting with others in ways that promote intimacy, emotional freedom and strong interpersonal skills.  Increasingly, boys need a chance to connect with each other and themselves in authentic ways, without the mediating effects of technology. 

In our group sessions, boys practice the very skills the isolation has kept from them: naming what they're feeling in the moment, listening to each other without immediately fixing or deflecting, and staying present in a conversation that gets a little uncomfortable instead of retreating to a phone or a joke. Over time, this becomes less like an exercise and more like a new default — boys who could once only relate through gaming or physical activity start to find they can sit with a friend who's struggling, or tell a parent what's actually going on with them. My role is to keep the group a safe enough space for that kind of practice to happen — setting the norms, calling things out gently when old patterns show up, and making sure the members get a real chance to be heard.

If you think this group could be helpful for you, please click the getting started link below, and reach out.