Oral Presentation (max 20 mins including Q&A) National Men's Health Gathering 2025

Men experiencing intersecting issues of family and/or relationship crisis – which may or may not lead to violence, gambling harm, alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, and poor mental health often face significant barriers to help-seeking, including shame, stigma, and a lack of safe, male-appropriate spaces for healing and accountability. In response, we are developing a male-led, trauma-informed program that integrates relationship repair, emotional literacy, and personal responsibility empowering men to break cycles of harm and reclaim healthier identities.

Delivered by trained male facilitators with lived or professional experience, this modular program combines group work, psychoeducation, and guided self-reflection. Drawing on contemporary frameworks such as CBT/REBT, motivational interviewing, and the philosophies behind She Is Not Your Rehab and CompassionPower, the sessions support men in rebuilding their lives and relationships from a place of strength, accountability, and emotional maturity.

Core program content includes:

• Listening as leadership: Teaching the “10 microskills of listening” as the secret ingredient for connection with partners, children, and peers.
• Emotional regulation & self-awareness: CBT-based techniques to support behavioural change, mood management, and self-care practices.
• Trauma & identity: Helping men understand their trauma responses without collapsing into victimhood emphasising choice, personal power, and the courage to change.
• Understanding partners’ trauma: Applying DBT themes and attachment-informed concepts to recognise fear responses in loved ones and respond with empathy and boundaries.
• Co-parenting & fatherhood: Building capacity for consistent, child-focused parenting and collaborative relationships with co-parents.
• Masculine archetypes & social roles: Exploring dynamics of power, class, and social expectations to promote self-reflection and accountability.

The program fosters a space where men can develop the tools to improve communication, support the wellbeing of their families, and live congruently with their values. Sessions are designed to be culturally flexible, inclusive  and adaptable to community, corrections, and clinical settings.

Conclusion:
This male-facilitated therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based strategies with culturally responsive, strengths-focused engagement. By positioning men not just as participants but as active agents in their healing, the program fosters meaningful change across domains of relationships, parenting, addiction recovery, and mental health.