Using Metaphors to Facilitate Exploration of Emotional Content in Counseling With College Men

Matthew C. Genuchi, Brian Hopper, Charles R. Morrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mental health professionals in college counseling centers are increasingly interested in understanding the challenges of effectively working with male college students. Not all men are difficult to work with in therapy, but certain masculine gender role norms, particularly restricted emotionality, can create challenges to the therapeutic process. However, therapeutic metaphors that are familiar to male clients can provide a safe entry point to emotional topics. We describe a framework of using metaphors with college men that involves connecting with interests of male clients, establishing rapport, and facilitating a nonthreatening common language to develop metaphors for exploration of vulnerable emotions. Brief case examples are then used to illustrate effective implementation of therapeutic metaphors with traditional male clients experiencing difficulty with emotions.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalPsychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • masculinity
  • restricted emotionality
  • therapeutic metaphors

EGS Disciplines

  • Psychiatry and Psychology

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