Presented by Seminary of the Southwest’s Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Counseling and Spirituality, this Continuing Education Unit (CEU) workshop explores the often-overlooked challenges that men face in understanding, identifying, and expressing their emotions. Designed for professionals in mental health, education, and other helping fields, this session will provide valuable insights and strategies into the unique barriers that men encounter regarding emotional health.
Details:
Saturday, March 28, 2025 8am to Noon
Weeks Center at Seminary of the Southwest
501 East 32nd Street
Austin, TX 78705
Click here to Register
Objectives:
Participants will:
- Be challenged to look at their own stereotypes and beliefs regarding men and emotions.
- Gain a deeper understanding into the societal, cultural, and personal challenges men face in developing emotional awareness and expression.
- Have the opportunity to hear from men who have courageously explored their own emotional journey.
- Learn effective strategies to support and encourage healthy emotional expression.
- Engage in discussions and hear diverse perspectives on the role of emotional health in men’s overall well-being.
Laura Jones Swann is a renowned expert in the field of emotional wellness, with a passion for helping both men and women navigate the complexities of emotional expression. With 35 years of experience as a therapist and educator, Laura has dedicated her career to breaking down barriers and fostering healthy emotional development. She is the author of the recently published book, Men and Emotions . . . It’s a Thing, which explores the challenges men face in understanding and expressing their emotions. Laura’s innovative approach combines research-based strategies with compassionate insight, making her a leading voice in this transformative area of mental health.
Several key themes in Laura’s work are illustrated by the following content taken from her book as well as several reflections that are from a few of the men that are featured in her book:
“A key to understanding emotions is to learn how to lean into them without getting swallowed up by them.”
“It’s so weird when people think men don’t have feelings. Like . . . have you ever listened to music written by men? Clearly men have A LOT of emotions.” —Social media post
“I think about the very strong conservative culture that I grew up in that taught that men detach from their emotions. Then I think about how grateful I am for the progress I have made to leave that mindset and now more often acknowledge, accept, and appreciate my emotions and what they can teach me about myself and the way I relate to the world around me.” —anonymous
“At 32 years old, I am beginning to understand that my feelings are not something to be ignored but rather a source of insight into my inner workings. In the past they were (and still are at times) disregarded and important to me. If I didn’t care about something I couldn’t be disappointed by the result. Forcing this detachment from my emotions produced a person who on the surface was mild, calm, and collected, but under the surface I was a trembling mess of anxiety and fear.” —Evan
