Many fathers today are struggling, feeling alone, or disconnected. Counselors can help fathers deal with societal expectations placed on them, and address issues related to work and relationships in general –
https://ct.counseling.org/2018/08/left-to-their-own-devices/
“… present fathers positively affect children in three key ways, notes Mark Kiselica, the acting provost and vice president for academic affairs and a professor of psychology at Cabrini University. First, by engaging in active play, such as throwing a ball, fathers promote their children’s physical development. Second, as role models, moral guides and disciplinarians, fathers help children become dependable, autonomous and friendly. Finally, fathers help their children’s cognitive stimulation, especially because current generations of fathers are more likely to be intimately involved in their children’s academic work and in promoting their achievement.”
“Despite the changing expectations and roles for fathers, men often struggle to update their own expectations around parenting, Englar-Carlson points out. Often, men are facing these challenges alone because resources on good fathering are scarce.”
“For that reason, counselors should be careful not to overlook the mental health of men who are struggling with one aspect or another of fatherhood. Instead, counselors can serve as a key asset in helping men learn to embrace and reframe their roles as fathers and helping them realize that they are not alone, says Englar-Carlson, one of the core authors of the forthcoming psychological practice guidelines for working with boys and men from the American Psychological Association.”
Counseling with Elaine Korngold
In my private practice, I work with parents of young children, teenagers, and adult children to help them figure out when to let go and when to hang on. We examine options and develop strategies to tackle perennial problems or new situations that come up. I utilize exercises from Gottman Method Couples Therapy to cover effective speaking and listening skills that are applicable to any healthy communication or interaction. Fathers struggling with expectations, explicit or implicit, get help in learning what gets triggered inside, whether the triggers are connected to their past, and how they can choose to respond to these triggers. Contact me to learn more.