Men’s work is a core part of my practice. I lead a process group for men called The Icarus Initiative, a space for emotional growth, relational repair, and deeper embodiment. The group is designed for men who want more than insight alone. It is for men who are ready to examine the patterns that shape their relationships, confront what shame and avoidance have kept hidden, and develop a steadier, more honest way of being with themselves and others.

The Icarus Initiative is not about performance, posturing, or self improvement as image management. It is about integration. By integration, I mean learning to turn toward the parts of yourself shaped by fear, shame, grief, anger, and old survival strategies, and bringing them back into contact with awareness, responsibility, and choice. The aim is not to become a perfected version of yourself. It is to become more whole, more accountable, and more capable of love, truth, and presence.

My approach to men’s work is psychologically grounded, relationally direct, and shaped by years of clinical practice. The group draws from Jungian archetypal psychology, attachment theory, somatic awareness, mindfulness, relational work, and practical emotional skills. We explore themes such as anger, fear, shame, grief, boundaries, conflict, father hunger, intimacy, shadow, and the difference between independence, codependence, and true interdependence. We also work with masculine archetypes as a way of understanding both our strengths and our shadow patterns, not as rigid roles, but as living inner energies that can be distorted, disowned, or integrated.

A central thread of the group is what I call Functional Emotional Fitness. By that I mean the capacity to stay present with emotion without being ruled by it, cut off from it, or forced to discharge it impulsively. This includes learning to recognize sensation in the body, name emotions with more accuracy, notice old relational patterns as they emerge, and respond with more steadiness and integrity. The work is experiential as well as reflective. Men are invited not only to think about their lives, but to practice new ways of speaking, listening, feeling, and staying in contact.

The Icarus Initiative is also a relational container. Men do not heal in isolation alone. Much of what becomes possible in the group happens through being witnessed, challenged, and known by other men who are doing their own work seriously. Over time, the group becomes a place where performance can soften, honesty can deepen, and new forms of trust, accountability, and brotherhood can develop. The goal is not agreement or sameness. It is a more mature capacity for contact, truth, and repair.

This group tends to resonate with men who are navigating relationship strain, life transitions, questions of purpose, recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, stress, grief, or a sense that the life they are living no longer fully fits. It is especially meaningful for men who have done some personal work already but know that insight has not yet fully translated into embodiment, connection, or change.

The Icarus Initiative is psychoeducational and deeply growth oriented. It is not individual psychotherapy, and it does not provide the individualized assessment, treatment, or crisis support that one to one therapy can offer. Instead, it is a structured group space for learning, reflection, emotional skill building, and relational growth. It can be highly therapeutic and often works well alongside individual treatment.

To support safety and fit, participation begins with an intake and screening process. Men interested in joining must be at least 21 years old. With the exception of current clients, prospective participants complete a one on one screening session with me so I can assess readiness, goodness of fit, and whether the group’s aims match what they are seeking. Men with active suicidality or untreated substance abuse disorders are not eligible to participate, though men who are already engaged in recovery work or individual treatment may still be appropriate depending on the broader clinical picture.

If you are interested in joining, please reach out and we can explore whether the group is a good fit for where you are right now.