The Relationship Group: Controlling the One You Love: Active and Passive Strategies *

11:45 AM to 1:00 PM

In previous meetings, our focus has been on understanding the primary personality styles identified by scientists and clinicians, and how these styles negotiate romantic relationships. Last time, we reviewed the levels of character functioning (neurotic, narcissistic, borderline, and psychotic),with a focus on the defensive strategies employed by persons at these various levels and their developmental origins.  In the next meeting of the Relationship Group on Saturday, November 17, 2018 (11:45 AM to 1:00 PM) , we will explore how control is used by a range of personality types to ward off the actual or anticipated impact of an intimate partner. We will consider a continuum of control ranging from active to passive tactics. The presentation will provide recommendations for working productively with control in a way that lays the groundwork for deeper contact and connection.

Notwithstanding the cliche that a man's ego is fragile, it seems as if --for any number of reasons -- the contemporary male often describes himself as feeling "emasculated." The term is used with such frequency that its ultimate meaning defies certainty. Yet what seems clear is that there is a growing tendency among a large portion of men to feel emotionally and psychologically dis-empowered, internally as well as within modern social contexts.  In the next meeting of the Men's Group on Saturday, November 17, 2018 (10:15 to 11:30 AM) , we will attempt to deconstruct the notion of emasculation and explore its role in men's contemporary experience. Numerous articles will serve as a backdrop for our discussion, including: depictions of emasculation in marriage , views of how women may emasculate men directly and indirectly, indicators of emotional emasculation , men in psychotherapy , and a rather controversial depiction of the emerging trend of emasculation .

This therapy group utilizes the emerging dynamics among group members, and between the group members and facilitator, as a basis from which to examine one's characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and relating to others.  Our next group session will be on Saturday, November 17, 2018 (1:15 to 2:30 PM) at the Laguna Hills office location.  A second process group that will be meeting on a weekday evening at my Newport Beach office is starting soon; interested persons may contact me directly at 949-338-4388 or [email protected] for more information.