Daniel Ellenberg

on Inspiring Men to Embrace Compassion and Vulnerability

Listen:

Show Notes:

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Ellenberg explains how the gender roles we internalize from an early age can cause difficulty in our personal lives and even impact the world at large. He describes the “man box” and how it often ignores the complexity of individual men and diverse masculinities. He also shares about his work helping men and couples develop comfort with vulnerability to cultivate more intimacy and connection. 

Daniel Ellenberg is an executive and leadership coach, organizational trainer, group facilitator, consultant, advisor, therapist, and researcher. He is president of Relationships that Work and directs Strength with Heart men’s groups, training, and seminars. He’s the immediate past president of the American Psychological Association’s division on men and masculinities. Daniel holds a Bachelors in psychology from Boston University and a Doctorate in counseling psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. 

Key Takeaways 

  • How being a sensitive child with a desire to connect inspired Dr. Ellenberg’s work around masculinity
  • How men are socialized to be confident, dominant and never show weakness (and why that’s a problem)
  • How the ‘max box’ ignores the complexity of individual men and the world at large
  • How the gender models we internalize cause great difficulty in our personal lives
  • How Dr. Ellenberg helps men develop an awareness of themselves and how they’re perceived by others
  • Dr. Ellenberg’s insight on transcending the ideas of what’s masculine and feminine and making room for people to be themselves
  • The role of self-compassion and mindfulness in Dr. Ellenberg’s Strength with Heart programs
  • What women can do to help men move beyond traditional male socialization
  • How Dr. Ellenberg’s Relationships That Work program helps couples develop more intimacy and connection
  • The relationship between the difficulties gender socialization causes on an individual and global level

 

Connect with Dr. Ellenberg

Resources Mentioned 



Recent Past Episodes:


Hosts:

Katherine King, PsyD


Katherine King, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at William James College. She was trained in evidence-based treatments within the Veterans’ Administration and has a private practice specializing in geropsychology. She is also a member of the Boston Shambhala Center Board of Directors, a vajrayana student of Buddhism, and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. Learn more about Kate at www.drkateking.com.

Alex Gokce, MSW


Alex Gokce, MSW has a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Government from Harvard University. He has led psychotherapy groups on topics including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mind-body approaches to pain management. He has co-led programs at the Boston Shambhala Center on the topics of trauma and self-compassion. His personal and professional interests center around the individual, societal and intergenerational impacts of trauma, as well as the sociocultural roots of interpersonal harm.


Disclaimer: Please note that the information shared in this podcast is strictly for educational purposes only, and is not intended as psychological treatment or consultation of any kind.

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The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of mental health professionals in the integration of mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy.

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