Monday, February 13, 2012

Widener to Host Daylong Conference on Men's Relationships


(Monday, February 13, 2012) Widener University will host “Deepening Men’s Relationships,” a conference examining the importance of emotional intimacy in men’s lives, on Saturday, March 17. The conference is open to both men and women who have either a professional or personal interest in making changes in men’s lives. It will address challenges faced by men and approaches to working with them to enhance their relationships with other men and women and their experiences as fathers, sons and partners.

“Our culture has historically created a model of masculinity that emphasizes independence and competition and dismisses the importance of emotional intelligence and emotional intimacy,” said Dr. Robert Heasley, therapist and president of the American Men’s Studies Association and one of the conference organizers.

Dr. Robert Garfield, another conference organizer whose therapy practice has included a focus on men and their relationships, further noted, “Denying men these qualities can affect everything from their mental and physical health to their parenting and everyday relationships. The effects can also be seen in instances of bullying in our schools and violence on our city streets.”

The conference will run March 17, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., on Widener University’s Main Campus in Lathem Hall, 13th and Potter streets, Chester, Pa. Cost is $95 or $75 for students. Continuing education credits are available for an additional $25. To register, visit http://mensrelationships.eventbrite.com/

Hank Mandel, co-producer of the documentary, "Five Friends: No Man Can Make the Journey Alone," is the conference’s featured speaker. His film will be featured earlier in the week on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute.

During part two of the conference, participants can join breakout sessions to address various topics that are important to working with (or being) men. Topics include “Sexually Abused Males and Recovery,” “Raising Emotionally Intelligent Boys: Parental, Educational and Clinical Awareness,” and “Men in Therapy and Therapeutic Men’s Groups.”

In addition to Heasley and Robert Garfield, other conference co-planners include Isaac Garfield, a social worker and family-based therapist, and Jake Kriger, a therapist who runs therapeutic men’s groups. Other professionals helping to administer sessions include Dr. Betsy Crane, director of Graduate Programs in Human Sexuality at Widener, and Ted Glackman, director of the J.J. Peters Institute in Philadelphia for sexual abuse and recovery.

Widener University is co-sponsoring the conference through its program in women and gender studies and graduate programs in human sexuality, psychology and social work. Heasley is an adjunct professor for Widener’s Graduate Programs in Human Sexuality. He also teaches full time at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has a therapy practice at Building Bridges in Media, Pa.

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