We recognize the profound impact that structured men’s groups (also group therapy) and peer-to-peer interactions have on personal growth and healing. Inspired by the successful therapeutic community (TC) model[i], MELD men’s groups offer a space where participants can develop the relational skills that may have been absent during their formative years.
Most of us did not have the “secure attachment” that Emotional Focus therapists say we need to learn how to connect to ourselves and others. We come in innocent needing our caregivers to not only protect and provide for us, but to model and express care and acceptance to us. Beyond the need to have shelter and food, we need to know that our parents will be there for us emotionally, even when we may not perform as they desire.
Therapeutic communities have a rich history, particularly in the treatment of addiction and chronic conditions. As noted by De Leon and Unterrainer (2020), these communities utilize a holistic approach that emphasizes self-management and self-efficacy. This “community as method” approach allows members to be active participants in their own transformation, leveraging the power of the group dynamic to foster personal change.
This model aligns closely with what I have experienced in creating and leading men’s groups for more than 30 years. By integrating peer support with guided emotional work, our groups help men challenge old patterns, support each other, and engage in real, vulnerable exchanges that promote deeper self-awareness and interpersonal connectivity. These groups model and provide secure attachment while giving men an opportunity to do the same for other men. Men pick up where their attachment development abruptly stopped.
In these groups, individuals find a supportive network that facilitates sharing experiences and mutual learning. According to Myra Altman Ph.D., as highlighted in Psychology Today, group sessions enable participants to develop trust and communicate more effectively, thereby enhancing their relational capabilities. This therapeutic setting provides a mirror for understanding oneself through the reflections of others, a process vital for those who lacked these relational experiences earlier in life.
The concept of learning relational skills in a community setting is not new. The TC model has shown that continuous engagement within a supportive group can lead to significant improvements in an individual’s ability to manage their life challenges. For example, at the Boston Pain Unit of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Hospital, patients learned to shift their reliance from external medical interventions to their own internal resources, fundamentally changing their role from passive recipients to active agents in their health and wellbeing.
Through our journey of 30 years of men’s groups, we observe how these principles create a safe environment where men can openly express themselves and learn from each other. Our groups are designed to help members cultivate emotional resilience and relational skills, which are crucial for fostering healthier, more fulfilling relationships and personal growth. The added benefit of a peer-to-peer design versus a group led by a therapist is that the men have to figure it out on their own. It is often more chaotic but more empowering. We too often look to authorities for direction. When we co-create that direction within a group, it is more satisfying and empowering.
We believe that every man has the potential to redefine his life through the power of community. By participating in MELD’s groups, men receive and give support, learning to navigate their emotions and relationships more skillfully. This mutual aid is at the heart of what makes our approach transformative.
Join us at MELD, where we continue to innovate on the legacy of therapeutic communities, offering a path to growth that is rooted in both proven methodologies and tailored to the unique needs of men today. Together, let’s embrace the power of groups to heal and transform.
[i] 1] Notably, the first applications of TCs in the U.S. took place in California. The first TC in the U.S. was the Synanon residential rehabilitation community, founded in 1958 in California for opioid addicts (NIDA, 2020). The first hospital-based TC was the Oakland Naval Therapeutic Community founded by U.S. Naval Psychiatrist, Harry Wilmer in the early 1950s, inspired by pioneering TCs he visited in England after the Second World War and meeting TC pioneer psychiatrist Maxwell Jones.[1] (Whiteley, 2004, p.241)
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