Megan Howard – Trauma, Addiction and Men: Create Connection, Increase Vulnerability and Improve Treatment Outcomes with the Male Client

Outline

Male Gender Roles and Stereotypes: Understand What Drives the Behavior

• Male gender roles and stereotypes
• The meaning/impact of gender roles
• ACE Study
• Male messages and trauma
• Cultural differences among male messages
• Prevalence of trauma in men

Identify the Root of Trauma and Addiction in Men: Understand the Research and Effective Assessment

• The addicted family system
• Chaotic and rigid family roles
• Suicide rate among men
• Impact of opioid epidemic
• Current limitations of successful long term recovery with men
• Barriers of change in treatment for men

Open Male Clients to Vulnerability and Change: Clinical Interventions to Overcome Male Shame and Stigma

• Healthy power vs. abuse of power
• Interdependence, independence, and codependence
• Self-esteem and emotional sobriety
• Vulnerability and supporting/validating attempts of openness
• Cognitive-behavioral techniques
• Solution-focused techniques

Therapeutic Adjustments for Men Who Struggle with “Talk Therapy”: 5 Techniques to Get Off on the Right Foot and Keep Men in Treatment

• Trauma adaptation in men
• MTREM and Seeking Safety for Men and other effective treatment approaches
• Biopsychosocial considerations for the male in treatment
• The “strong man” techniques for connection, courage, and strength
• Meaning, redefining values, grounding, and self-regulation

Other Treatment Roadblocks: Solutions for Common Concerns When Treating Men

• Angry clients
• Boundary concerns
• Attachment
• Intimacy
• Suicidality
• Trust & vulnerability