Have you ever tried to push a man to express himself, only to get the opposite effect? It’s frustrating! Instead of openness and sharing, you get defensiveness and withdrawal. When this happens it is often an indication to change your approach to him. What if you changed your approach in such a way that increases the probability of him opening up?
Good news! You already know how to do this. Do you remember finding a turtle when you were kid? If you wanted to see the turtle’s head and legs, you had to give it some space, some time, and some peace. If you wanted the turtle to keep his head out, you had to continue to provide this environment or it would close up.
So, men are turtles? We’ve been called worse! Focus on the environment, not him, and you have a much better chance of him opening up. If you need any help doing this, please do not hesitate to contact me as I would be more than willing to assist you in creating a safe, supportive environment for men…and turtles.
Ben Thompson
Licensed Marital & Family Therapist
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