Navigating Toxic Masculinity in Clients as a Beginning Therapist

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide counseling students with a framework that will allow them to broach gender with male clients and to navigate conversations that may elicit anxiety for beginning counselors. This will be done through the case example of Whitney, a graduate student who just started internship. Her client is Rick, a client in his 50s, who is coming to services because of receiving a DUI and needing to complete counseling for his diversion mandate. Whitney is younger than Rick and has the experience of having some discomforting exchanges with him, such as remarks on how “bright” she is and a passing comment her outfit. The strategies proposed in this case study are grounded in the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies and in Relational Cultural Theory and will give students a framework for understanding clients who may respond like Rick.

Not All Migrant Men Embrace Toxic Masculinity, Do They?

“…This new definition is mainly used to define the destructive manners like socially dominant, misogynistic, violent, and homophobic behaviors where men do not just victimize women and children but also one another (Borinca, Iacoviello et al, 2020;Christensen, Henderson et al, 2019). Connell and others theorized that the problem with masculinity turning from a healthy one to a toxic one comes from setting unattainable standards regarding social respect, physical strength, and sexual potency.…”

“…"Toxic masculinity" is not only something that some men use to harm people around them. It can be also harmful to the men themselves as it often harms the man by injuring relationships, increasing isolation, and suppressing pain and suffering (Christensen, Henderson et al, 2019). They generally deny their health problems and do not seek for help as a health problem makes them vulnerable and is a degradation of self-image.…”