Raising emotionally healthy boys: How to protect connection, vulnerability, and their authentic selves with Dr. Adam McCormick

Dr. Adam McCormick, professor, social worker, and author joins me to explore what happens to boys' emotional worlds as they grow up, and how parents can help their sons stay connected to the parts of themselves they may otherwise learn to hide.

Together we explore:

Why so many boys gradually disconnect from emotions they once expressed freely.
The powerful role shame can play beneath anger, withdrawal, and challenging behavior, and why boys often don't have the language to recognize it.
How even well-intentioned parents may respond differently to their sons' emotions without realizing it.
Why trying to fix a boy's feelings can sometimes get in the way of the connection he actually needs.
What boys learn when they feel valued for who they are, rather than for how they perform.
Why small moments of delight, attention, play, and connection can have a much bigger impact than we realize.
A simple shift that can make it easier for boys to open up about the things that matter most.
How we can hold boys accountable for their behavior while still staying curious about what that behavior may be communicating.
Why helping boys stay connected to their inner worlds now may shape the friendships, romantic relationships, and emotional lives they build later.

Whether you're raising a toddler, a teenager, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder that boys don't need us to teach them how to feel. They need us to help protect the emotional capacities they already have, so they don't have to lose connection with themselves in order to feel like they belong.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗Adam McCormick

📚Healing the Helping Professional: The Unfinished Business of Childhood Trauma

📱LinkedIn: Adam McCormick

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:

🔗 Dr. Sarah Bren

🔗 Check out my group practice, Upshur Bren Psychology Group, offering therapy and coaching for individuals, children, parents, and families

📱IG: @drsarahbren

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

🎧 444. The connection crisis: Why kids are struggling with friendship and what parents can do with Dr. Niobe Way

👉 Want extra support in your parenting journey? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers therapy and coaching to give parents the tools to feel more grounded and confident as they navigate parenthood and learn how to most effectively support their child. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services and schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the support that's right for your family.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about raising emotionally intelligent sons with Ruth Whippman

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about why boys and girls need different things with Michael Gurian

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to support your child's secure attachment even if you didn't grow up with it with Dr. Miriam Steele

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