Clinical Work With Men

A fresh approach to understanding and engaging men in therapy

Why do so many men avoid therapy—or never return after the first session? And how can clinicians better connect with them?

In Clinical Work With Men, psychologist Andrew P. Smiler offers a groundbreaking guide for therapists seeking to better understand and engage with male clients by exploring masculinity from the inside out. Instead of pathologizing men’s behaviors, this book helps clinicians see the world through their clients’ eyes, examining the roles, values, and identities that shape how men understand themselves.

Drawing on extensive research and clinical experience, Smiler introduces seven common masculinity types—from the breadwinner and the protector to the angry man and the player—each with its own strengths, struggles, and therapeutic implications. Through vivid clinical vignettes and actionable strategies, therapists will learn how to:

• Recognize the core values and identity themes that drive male clients’ behavior.
• Build rapport by aligning therapeutic approaches with clients’ self-understandings.
• Address emotional development, social connection, and intersectional challenges.
• Apply practical interventions tailored to diverse masculinities.

With its unique focus on identity, values, and real-world clinical applications, Clinical Work With Men will deepen your insight, sharpen your skills, and help you create more meaningful, effective therapeutic relationships with men.

• Chapter 1. Helping Therapists Help Men
• Chapter 2. Theoretical Overview
• Chapter 3. The Breadwinner
• Chapter 4. The Self-Sufficient Man
• Chapter 5. The Problem Solver
• Chapter 6. The Protector
• Chapter 7. The Angry Man
• Chapter 8. The Player
• Chapter 9. The Un-Emotional Man
• Chapter 10. Conclusion

References

Andrew P. Smiler, PhD, is an award-winning author, therapist, and psychologist living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His therapeutic practice focuses on helping teen boys, adult men, and their families live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Dr. Smiler is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities and past board chair of MaleSurvivor.org. He is author or coauthor of the books Is Masculinity Toxic? A Primer for the 21st Century, Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy, and the best-selling textbook The Masculine Self (7th ed., with Christopher Kilmartin). Visit his website.

Good evidence-based therapy begins with a coherent and comprehensive theoretical framework for treatment supported by empirical evidence. Smiler provides just that and grounds it in real-world case examples. This is one of the very best books on therapy with men to appear in the past 2 decades and is sure to become a classic.
—Michael Addis, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA

Andrew Smiler has devoted his career to advancing the mental health and well-being of boys and men. From his decades of experience as practitioner and scholar, he provides a highly accessible book that efficiently includes the theory and research needed to better understand this harder-to-engage population. Yet Dr. Smiler’s true gift is the rich case studies that clearly identify and illustrate scientifically informed, pragmatic approaches for more effectively helping the diverse men who walk into your office.
—Christopher S. Reigeluth, PhD, Associate Professor at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, and author of The Masculinity Workbook for Teens: Discover What Being a Guy Means to You

Andrew Smiler shows us why it is difficult to engage men in therapy, then demonstrates his expertise about men and masculinity through vivid case examples where he connects to the male experience. Any therapist who works with men should read this book to understand how to make contact with the hurting men who would bene fit from treatment and how to help them heal.
—Richard Gartner, PhD, Training and Supervising Analyst, Faculty, and Founding Director of the Sexual Abuse Program, William Alanson White Institute, New York, NY, and author of Betrayed as Boys: Psychodynamic Treatment of Sexually Abused Men

A significant, work-changing way of thinking about the work...masculinity is incredibly complex, and I really appreciate how Andrew’s created a framework. To have a framework, I think, is really quite important, and I think it’s really helpful for people who want to dive in but want something to anchor them in the work.
—Therapy With Men and Boys: A Guide for Clinicians, Episode 10

He’s developed something called the ‘multifaceted masculinity framework,’ a new model that helps us get more complete picture of what masculinity actually is and how it operates in men’s lives. That framework is at the heart of the new book…now available to all of you. It’s written for clinicians, but honestly, I think anyone trying to understand men more deeply is going to find something valuable in it.
—The New Masculine Podcast, Episode 102

Dr. Andrew Smiler, leading expert on modern psychotherapy for men and author of Clinical Work With Men, breaks down the psychological pressures, shifting cultural expectations, and real-world struggles shaping men today.
—Men's Therapy Podcast, Episode 176

Clinical Work With Men is the kind of book I wish were available when my father needed help, but glad it is available now...timely and important for men and women. This could be a much better standard and a much more useful go-to manual for what we would want clinicians to know. I, for one, really would like to see this book be a standard for clinicians at all levels.
—MenAlive.com, Dr. Jed Diamond

• Watch Dr. Andrew Smiler, author of Clinical Work With Men: Understanding Masculinity in Psychotherapy on The Masculine podcastopens in new window.
• Watch the author(s) discuss Clinical Work for Men.opens in new window Interested in this book? Purchase a copy to continue (or start) the conversation with your clients.
• Listen to Andrew Smiler on Men’s Therapy Podcast, part of Men’s Therapy Onlineopens in new window, a healing hub for men who want to get back on their feet or take their lives to the next level. The full episode can be found hereopens in new window, as well as on Appleopens in new window or YouTubeopens in new window.