Purpose

1. To provide men a place to come together where they can discuss personal issues in a confidential setting.
2. Learning to relate to other men in a healthy and meaningful way.
3. To introduce ideas and methods that increase men's ability to identify and express their emotions in healthy and positive ways particularly in their relationships.
4. Increase ability to experience success and satisfaction in their roles as men (i.e., husband, partner, father, provider, friend, brother and son).

Objectives

1. Increase satisfaction in relationships by further developing skills in communicating, connecting, resolving conflict and managing stress and anger.
2. Identify and understand the relationships between thoughts, feelings and actions and how to use them more effectively.

Evaluation

1. All group members will be given a survey at the beginning of the group asking: 1. What they expect out of the group, and 2. what personal issues they hope to work on.
2. Progress will be monitored through weekly discussions and homework assignments.
3. All group members will be given a survey at 8 week intervals assessing: 1. If their expectations were met and how, 2. What progress on the issues they needed to address, and 3. Recommendations for future groups.

Method

1. To meet the varying needs of group members the group will be held on an ongoing basis within an eight week cycle for those who want a time limited experience. Those who wish to continue the group process may continue with the length of participation decided by each group member according to their individual need.
2. Each group will consist of introducing a new psychoeducational topic and/or life skill based theme designed to stimulate discussion in a relaxed atmosphere. Each group will then continue with that theme and/or shift to processing specific issues brought by the members of the group.
3. By the end of each group session, each group member will either: 1. identify an area in his/her life they wish to focus on by applying concepts learned, discussed, or shared in group, or; 2. Complete a suggested homework assignment.