Description of Group
We are social animals who thrive when we are connected in friendship, family, and community. But many of us struggle to find and maintain these connections. We may feel outcast, unacceptable, without a place, or we may be surrounded by people but feel that none of them really know the “real” us.
Clinical research suggests that protracted loneliness causes stress to our nervous system, decreases overall health, increases the likelihood we’ll turn toward harmful coping strategies, and may even cause us to act in ways that interfere with the connection we deeply crave.
Men in this culture struggle with issues of loneliness and connection in unique ways. We experience our own set of contradictory messages and unrealistic expectations that insist we be connected but not vulnerable. We’re not supposed to care what others think of us but we’re also supposed to desire social status and approval. We’re supposed to restrict our needs for emotional intimacy and touch only to sexual or romantic partners, such that these needs become sexualized. We’re expected to be masters of our emotions without much explanation as to how.
Licensed mental health counselor Anthony Rella facilitates a group supporting participants in healing the psychological consequences of loneliness and strengthen our capacity for meaningful connection. Together we practice the skills to build, maintain, and repair connections with each other, which at times means experiencing and working through conflict in a generative way.
*This group is for anyone who identifies as a man, and will be informed by a liberatory ethic. The safety of all participants will be prioritized, and expressions of racism, sexism, ableism, classism, homophobia, or transphobia will be challenged for two reasons:
- To keep the group safe for participants who are marginalized.
- These oppressions harm all men and are deeply implicated in the reasons we struggle to connect.
Structure of Group
Due to COVID19, this group will meet via RingCentral Meetings, a video conferencing platform that is identical to Zoom.
August 31, 2020 @ 7pm – FREE workshop introducing the topics to be covered in group. Interested participants may attend and sign up for ongoing group.
September 14, 2020 – December 14, 2020 @ 7pm – Committed participants will meet weekly for experiential practice, lecture, and group process.
To register, email or call Anthony. Provide your name, date of birth, and email address, so that you may receive application materials, follow-up emails and reminders. If you cannot attend the August 31 session, you may still apply to participate.
