Many men arrive in therapy carrying a profound sense of disconnection—not only from others, but
from themselves. Beneath presentations of anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors,
perfectionism, or emotional withdrawal often lies an older adaptive survival strategies, including the
belief that authentic emotional expression risks exclusion and isolation. This experiential workshop
integrates Somatic Experiencing® (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, and
experiential psychotherapy to explore how developmental experiences shape men’s nervous
systems, protective adaptations, and capacity for connection.
Participants will learn to recognize how shame is held both psychologically and physiologically,
identify common autonomic survival responses that maintain emotional avoidance, and understand
how protective parts often emerge as survival adaptations to relational threat. Through lecture,
experiential exercises, clinical demonstrations, and guided reflection, attendees will develop
practical interventions for helping men cultivate greater nervous system flexibility, emotional
awareness, and secure connection without overwhelming protective defenses.
Rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction, this workshop offers a framework for
understanding men’s suffering through the lens of attachment, embodiment, and adaptive survival.
Participants will leave with concrete somatic and parts-informed strategies that can be immediately
integrated into clinical work with individuals and groups.