Men, shame, and psychotherapy.

Discusses the capacity of shame to organize cognitive and behavioral responses in the formation of the male character. Psychotherapy often rekindles these early shame struggles, as shame plays a role in both structural and process issues of psychotherapy. How therapists can recognize and deal with shame-based defenses (e.g., silence and nondisclosure, intellectualization and distantiation) is addressed. Recognizing therapeutic battles as the male client's attempt to connect and honoring male aggression are suggested management strategies for therapy with men. Countertransference issues include competitive struggles and the fear of depletion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)