Routledge Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity: New Insights for Counselors (The Routledge Series on Counseling and Psychotherapy with Boys and Men)

Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity provides concrete, practical suggestions for mental health professionals. Drawing from decades of clinical experience working with men and interdisciplinary insights from psychology, sociology, religion, and more, the authors explore some of the most salient aspects of men’s mental and spiritual health. Chapters focus on topics such as men’s relationships to religion and to masculinity, shame, and forgiveness, and concerns such as pornography use and drifting between religious affiliations. In addition to relevant theory and research, each chapter includes a case study and clear, science-informed strategies that can be incorporated into everyday practice in ways that improve men’s health and wellbeing. Review "Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity is a critically important contribution to the field of the psychology of men and masculinity. Isacco and Wade offer a very thoughtful, evidence based, informative, and remarkably readable book on the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of men. Researchers, clinicians, and educated lay readers interested in this topic will surely find this book compelling on multiple levels."―Thomas G. Plante, PhD, ABPP, Augustin Cardinal Bea, S.J. University Professor and Professor of Psychology and Religious Studies at Santa Clara University and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, USA "In my 20-plus years of treating men who struggle with sex/pornography addiction, I have found it crucial to address spirituality, religion, and masculinity in the recovery process. Unfortunately, these issues are often neglected by the mental health community. In fact, they are often attacked by professionals. Isacco and Wade do an excellent job addressing these issues and their importance to good mental health in men!"―Peter C. Kleponis, PhD, LPC, CSAT-C, clinical therapist and cofounder of IntegrityRestored.com "Many men explore their masculinities and humanity through spirituality and religion, yet taken together, these are often ignored in mental health training and practice. The result is that helping professionals are often ill-prepared to fully understand the full range of men’s experiences. Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity is a comprehensive and insightful master course on the intersection of these concepts. If you want to truly help men, this is a place to start. It is essential reading for any professional who wants to support the men in their life and practice to find purpose and direction in their quest to have a more meaningful life, relationships, and connection to the sacred and spiritual." ―Matt Englar-Carlson, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton About the Author Anthony Isacco, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and associate professor in the graduate psychology program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, USA. Jay C. Wade, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Bali, Indonesia. He is a fellow and past president of APA Division 51, the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinities, and a former associate professor of psychology at Fordham University, USA.