One of the challenges of working with boys and young men is finding ways to frame therapy or mental health in ways that are “guy friendly.” If you tell a guy he needs to get therapy or go to see a “shrink” good luck getting him in the door. Guys often find the prospect of a root canal preferable to therapy. Using the term coaching is one way that some mental health professionals have tried to circumvent the terminology dilemma. I have mixed feelings about coaching. On the one hand, it can work because men and boys are certainly comfortable with the concept of coaching. On the other hand, psychologists are quite different from coaches and it is a bit of a stretch to equate mental health counseling with coaching. Recently Aaron Hernandez, the tight end for the New England Patriots, spoke about his time working with a psychologist. In the article, he uses the term “I trained with a psychologist.” Hmmm, trained with a psychologist. I have never heard that term used with psychology before and I think I like it. ”Training” has a broader scope as a word than coaching but still is “guy friendly.” I would love to hear others’ opinions of this. Training with psychologists, is Aaron Hernandez on to something?
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Real Quarterbacks Don’t Cry?
Tonight, there is an ESPN special that details how Tom Brady was not taken until the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft and went on to be a superstar. In footage seen here he chokes up for over 10 seconds as he recalls his family’s support as he struggled with the prospect that he might not be drafted. What has surprised me is the number of fans and media members taking shots at Brady for being a “sissy” and other more offensive terms for shedding a tear and getting emotional. Brady is without question one of the best quaterbacks to ever play the game and as tough as they come but he can’t get choked up when describing one of the toughest obstacles he had to overcome? I thought we had come a little further than that…