Jim Michael IMF #41341 Supervisor Richard Brewer, MFT License # MFC 35609
323 656 3316 x 4

   
 

 Jim Michael, MA, CHt

   
 

 Wednesday, 16 April 2008

 

 

Home
About Me...
Addictions
Anger Resolution
Contact Me...
Domestic Violence
Healthy Sex
Men's Issues
Spiritual Questions

 

Bisexuality.htm
Healthy Sex.htm

 

Physical Abuse.htm
Psychological Abuse.htm
Sexual Abuse.htm

 

Men's Issues...

When I thought about specializations in the field of therapy, what I truly, authentically wanted to help people with, a little voice in my head said, very quietly and very gently, “Don’t forget ‘Men’s Issues.’” So while I was in my ego thinking that I’d like to have a focus on this and that, it was that little voice that came forward to let me know my truth.

Just by virtue of being a man, by growing up white, in the Midwest of the USA, I learned certain ideas about manhood; that is, I was socialized into having certain ideas about that age old question “What is it to be a man?” It seems to be one of the more persistent questions that continues to come up for men, too. Know that no other man than himself can provide the answer to that question.


 

 

Intimacy...

Men and Intimacy?

Intimacy is about connection, whether it be between men, women, best friends, or a guy and his dog; it has to do with connection and relationship. Too many times EGO gets in the way of deepening and enriching this connection. Ego says "I'm right, you're wrong." And while that well may be, it still puts me in the position of separation. I may be right, but in my "rightness" I'm alone.

Don't let Ego get in the way of your connection with others. If I'm using ownership language ("I" statements), owning my own feelings (happy, mad, sad, afraid/nervous) (I felt sad when...) I'm off to a good start.

Intimacy is:

  • A natural byproduct of open, honest, communication.

  • Connection with somebody.

Intimacy can be scary, and it affects every area of our lives... how close we are to our coworkers at work, our neighbors, our “intimate” partners the person behind the counter at the local Starbucks. And ultimately how we treat ourselves. Our ideas about intimacy can affect our anxiety levels, and how we cope in life.

Helping you identify, explore and create effective life coping strategies is one of my intentions. So give me a call, set up an appointment, let’s talk about anxiety, at your speed and no faster, let’s talk about intentions, and keep or get your life going at the speed you want your life to go. what you want.

 

 

 

What is STRENGTH?

What is FEMININE?


What is WEAKNESS?


What is MASCULINE?


What is VULNERABILITY?


What is RIGID?                  What is POWER? 

    
What is CARING? (And what does that look like?)


What kind of man

 

do you CHOOSE to be?


 

 

 

NEWS


 

Thank You Metropolitan Community Church
of
West Hollywood, California!

I had the honor of facilitating a discussion on

"Emotionally Safe Sex"

with the "Youth Tribe" on
Friday December 8, 2006

 

 

 
 

What men were taught...

 

 

  • “Speak up like a man”
  • “Be a man about it”
  • “Don’t be a sissy boy”
  • “Momma’s boy”
  • “Can’t you be a real boy?”
  • "What, are you a girl?"


 

 

What men WEREN'T taught...

 

 

  • You’re allowed to feel that way
     
  • It’s OK not to know
     
  • You can go ahead and cry, I get it.
     
  • It’s OK
     
  • I trust you
     
  • I’ll help you