Why are so many men ambivalent about coming to couple therapy? And so many therapists struggle with engaging men in the therapy process? In this special episode, Dr. Erica Liebman looks for answers by interviewing her co-host, Dr. David Shepard, who is a leading expert on making couple therapy effective for male partners. Together, David and Erica will explain why men in heterosexual relationships are ambivalent about couples work. David will then discuss what clinicians can do to help them overcome their ambivalence, and instead, make them feel couple therapy is a safe place for the vulnerable work of expressing tender, often attachment-related emotions.  The episode will reveal how to build a therapeutic relationship with male partners, how to know when a man is ready to explore painful emotions, how to make sure a man doesn't worry about a female therapist taking his partner's side, and other solutions to making sure therapy is a place where men and women can feel more deeply connected.

The "manosphere" gets a lot of attention in the media- but what is it, really? At its core, it's a loose online network of influencers talking about a range of topics, but all having a connection with masculinity, male identity, and "what it means to be a man." Some voices in this space genuinely resonate with young men, offering a sense of empowerment and community. But many others promote, overtly or subtly, harmful narratives -- misogyny, anti-feminism, toxic masculinity, and right wing ideologies that can distort self-worth and damage relationships.

Therapists are uniquely positioned to help young male clients sort through these conflicting messages, and when needed, countering their negative influence. In this episode, co-hosts Drs. Erica Liebman and David Shepard speak with Dr. Saed Hill, a leading expert on the manosphere. He unpacks its appeal, its dangers, and how therapists can support clients in shaping healthier, more expansive visions of masculinity.

Working with male clients as a female therapist presents unique challenges. What happens when your client shuts down, or none of your empathic responses seem to land, or you just can't seem to develop that crucial therapeutic alliance? What do you do when your own past experiences with men -- especially the ones that left scars-- start to shape the session?

In this episode, Dr. Erica Liebman and Dr. David Shepard sit down with Dr. Holly Sweet, a leading expert on the psychology of masculinity, to discuss the complexities of gender dynamics in therapy. From countertransference to building trust, from handling resistance to creating a male-friendly space, Dr. Sweet offers invaluable insights that every clinician working with men should hear. Whether you've struggled to connect with male clients or wanted to refine your approach, this conversation will leave you with actionable strategies and a fresh perspective on working with men in therapy.

Join us for the very first episode of Therapy with Boys and Men: A Guide for Clinicians. 

In this episode with guest Dr. Fred Rabinowitz, we explore how to accomplish the most important and often challenging tasks therapists need to know to make their treatment with men successful. These include, how to build a strong therapeutic alliance, navigate the line between providing solutions versus sitting with emotions, invite men to "tell their story," and help men express their underlying pain.

Dr. Fred Rabinowitz is one of the country's leading experts in working with men. He is Professor of Psychology at the University of Redlands, a clinician specializing in working with men for over 40 years, and a prolific author in the field of masculinities, co-authoring such books as  Man Alive: A Primer of Men's Issues, Men and Depression, Deepening Psychotherapy with Men, Breaking Barriers in Counseling Men, and Deepening Group Psychotherapy with Men. He's presented numerous times throughout the country, and is a member and Past-President of the American Psychological Association's Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities.