Last month, we experienced one of the very best Leaders Connect presentations in the 25 years of the program. A panel of four women, with the moderator, Chris Sing, talked about their personal experiences moving into positions of leadership. The women and men in the audience felt deep admiration for the panelists. Our emotions ran deep. We were all delighted and motivated by Sheryl Szady’s story about how she was able to convince the athletic department to agree to grant over 900 …
Recently, the media has focused its attention on therapy. As I reflect on my 40 years of doing research and therapy with men, I find that most men still regard going to see a therapist as a sign of weakness. If possible, they avoid it at all costs. Rather than being beneficial, entering therapy is seen as something to be feared and avoided by most men. If we consider the tenets of what it means to be a man in …
What I am reading: As a member of my book club (which may be one of the longest-running in AA, spanning 40 years), I am currently engrossed in the captivating historical novel “The Leopard” by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Set in 1860s Sicily, it portrays the poignant downfall of a prince. I am utterly captivated not only by the superb quality of the writing but also by the intriguing parallels between the devolving culture in Sicily at that time and …
In May and June, I am proud to participate in a series of joyful and informative events. For 20 years, through the evolution of Leaders Connect, I’ve been able to help create and sponsor over 100 weekly and monthly educational and socially connecting events. In the next 30 days, I will have the pleasure of attending an abundance of events featuring several of my very good friends, including: Mike Samuelson, author of Iconic Ann Arbor; Ari Weinzweig from Zingerman’s, who …
In 2024, I will be celebrating 50 years as a psychologist. During that time, I have witnessed numerous changes in the field of psychology. Even the basic definition of psychology has changed drastically. Here are some of the key developments I have experienced as a psychologist: From 1965 through 1968, when I was a student at the University of Michigan, the dominant theory and practice perspective for psychotherapy was Freudian, psychodynamic therapy. As an undergrad, I learned from my professors …
Dave Ufer, Kurt Berggren, Owen Anderson, and I at York Professional and college sports are finally paying attention to the health of college athletes. Currently, already all NFL and NBA teams now have mental health consultants. College athletics aren’t far behind. Imagine the pressure on an 18-year-old college student trying to play a major sport. Not only do they have to deal with the heavy anxiety that many undergraduates are now experiencing, but they also have to add to the …