Man Talk

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Your Year in Review - 7 Essential Questions to Close 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +1100

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

New year's resolutions often fail often due to psychological traps.

Instead of setting resolutions I encourage you to consider some key questions to evaluate 2025 and set meaningful intentions for 2026.

These questions allow you to:

Focus on core values
Release unnecessary burdens
Set healthy boundaries
Live more authentically
Confront your fears
Reduce Avoidance

This final episode of the year provides insights on how to start the new year with a renewed, intentional mindset.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

S5. Ep.11 - Is Vulnerability Really Necessary?

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +1100

Vulnerability is everywhere!

It’s on social media, in self-help books, on Ted talks, discussed in countless therapy rooms.

Vulnerability can be extremely confusing, especially for us blokes!

In this episode Howard and Ryan unpack it all for you.

What does vulnerability really mean?
Why is it often mistaken for weakness?
How it can actually be a source of strength.?
Can vulnerability be transformative?
How does it make a difference to your mental health and relationship?
When does it simply not work?

If you’ve ever wondered whether opening up is worth the risk, or is vulnerability really all that necessary this conversation is for you.

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations.

Check out his private practice:

Book An Appointment Here

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

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What Happens When You Start Therapy? In Conversation with a Male Counsellor

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Howard shares his personal journey from a stoic British upbringing to becoming a therapist who specialises in men's emotional health.

He reflects on:

His early emotional struggles
The impact of cultural norms on his mental health
His path to self-discovery and emotional wellbeing

Howard delves into his therapeutic practices and how they helped him become more authentic and self-compassionate.

The conversation also explores:

The importance of finding a therapist who resonates on a human level
How therapy can serve as a safe space for emotional exploration and growth

This episode is a candid and insightful look into the personal and professional journey of a therapist, offering a compelling case for the transformative power of therapy.

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations.

Check out his private practice:

Book An Appointment Here

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

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Beyond Beer and Banter: Cultivating Authentic Male Friendships

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +1000

Is true friendship a cornerstone of emotional wellbeing?

Friendships that offers support, belonging and genuine connection.

If so:

Why are so many men in Australia and beyond quietly battling loneliness and isolation?

How do male friendships change over time?
What does it takes to move past surface-level banter and build friendships that matter?

You are invited join Ryan and I in conversation as we unpack the power of authentic male friendships.

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

TRANSCRIPT

Speaker A: Is true friendship a cornerstone of emotional well being? You know, friendships that offer support,
belonging and a genuine connection? And if so, why are so many blokes in Australia and in fact around the world quietly battling loneliness and isolation?
How do male friendships change over time? And what does it take to move past that surface level banter and build friendships that matter?
You are invited to join Ryan and I in conversation as we unpack the power of authentic male friendships. Welcome to Man Talk, a podcast of real conversations about life, your life,
our life, the emotional well being of men. My name is Howard Todd Collins. I'm the director of Men and Relationships Counseling, a private counseling practice here in sunny Melbourne, Australia.
Thank you for being here. Sit back and relax and join me and my very good friend Ryan for this latest episode of Men Talk.
Today we're, we're talking about friendship and men.
I did a bit of research on what Beyond Blue has been talking about in terms of the statistics for blokes around friendship. According to BeyondBlue, 25% of Aussie blokes have nobody outside of their family or their partner that they can call upon or rely upon.
And in the same research, some of the men who do have lots of friends,
97% agree that having mates is a good thing, it's essential.
And out of that,
87% of men in that context struggle with to actually make the time to catch up with mates.
And it's a theme that comes up in my conversations with men about feeling isolated and lonely and realizing that maybe their priorities of making friendships or staying connected with mates somehow gets dismissed or pushed down the priority list and it leads to all sorts of problems for blokes, the isolation of men,
depression, anxiety and so on. That's part of the research.
But I guess in some way I wonder a bit about what is it about men and friendships that you know about in your life that are useful for us to be thinking about and feeling our way through.
In the conversation today,
what do you reckon?
Speaker B: I mainly just know about my experience and that is I seem to have experienced like seasons of friendships as I've gone through different stages of my life. So when I reflect back, when I was a young kid,
my friends were like part of the social group that my parents had that we gathered together fo

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S. 5 Ep. 8. Too Hard On Yourself? Rethinking Self-Compassion for Blokes

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +1000

There are too many blokes who are way too hard on themselves.

In this episode I’m going to break down the myth that self-compassion is soft, weak, self pity or even selfish.

What does Self-Compassion really mean?
What are the skills?
Why is it so hard for some men?
How can it actually make you stronger—not softer.

If this episode raises your interest to work on Self Compassion and you need get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

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TRANSCRIPT

Speaker A: Are you kind to yourself? Do you practice self compassion?

Now, as a man, you may well feel the pressure to always be strong,

independent and self sufficient. For a lot of blokes, the idea of being kind to themselves sounds a bit, well, fluffy or wishy washy in some way. Maybe you picture bubble baths or scented candles or incense sticks or just slacking off for the day, but self compassion is actually about treating yourself with the same respect and understanding you would offer a good friend.

There are too many blokes who are way too hard on themselves.

So I'm going to break down the myth that self compassion is soft or weak.

It's not self pity and it's not even being selfish.

So what does self compassion actually mean? What are the skills? Why is it so hard for some men? And how can it actually make you stronger,

not softer? Welcome to Mentalk, a podcast of real conversations about life, your life, our life,

and the emotional well being of men. My name is Howard Todd Collins. I'm the director of Men and Relationships Counseling. Let's talk about what it really means to be a kinder and stronger man in today's world,

starting by how you treat yourself.

Thank you for being there. Sit back and relax and join me for this latest episode of Men Talk.

Good morning, good evening, good afternoon.

I think I've covered all bases but in the wrong order. I hope you're well, wherever you're, wherever you're listening to me from.

This is a solo episode. The last couple of episodes have been a conversation with a co host with my good friend Ryan. We've been talking about a few things,

so if you've missed those last couple of episodes, there are conversations or co hosted, please go back and have a look at them and have a listen. But this is just me on my own today and we're going to be covering something that I think is really common for blokes in particular,

but also for lots of women and couples that I meet who kind of get in their own way.

Do you ever find yourself being just too hard on yourself or even other people?

Are you like many blokes who for generations have been handed down what is kind of the same old script, which is to man up,

push through and keep your feelings locked away in some way.

Now I also believe this, like many of us may be that real men should not show weakness,

that stoicism is our strength, and that asking for help or admitting you're struggling

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The Art of Sitting With Feelings - A Man's Perspective

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +1000

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Why would you want to sit with uncomfortable feelings?

A reasonable question!

In this latest conversation Ryan and Howard discuss:

What does sitting with feelings even mean and what stops most of us?
The impact of avoiding our emotions
Some practical ideas of how to sit with feelings
The value of finding a ritual or a practice and seeking support

This episode delves into the complexities of men's emotional experiences.

Through personal anecdotes, we emphasise the importance of recognising and addressing emotions rather than avoiding them, highlighting how communication and emotional awareness can improve mental well-being and relationships.

If you want to grab the Free Guide "Better Conversations for Blokes" - Quick and Simple ways to Communicate with Your Partner click here

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Becoming a Better Bloke - The Purpose of Men's Work

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:00:00 +1000

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

In this engaging and thought provoking conversation, the first co-hosted Man Talk episode, Howard and Ryan unpack what Men's Work is all about.

They share some of their experiences of Men's Groups and broader themes of Men's Work today including:

What is Men’s Work? Where does it originate?
What are some of the core concepts of Men’s Work?
Our personal experiences of men’s work: What’s the point? Why put yourself through it?
What are some of the contemporary Issues in Men's Work today?
Why is Men’s Work so important? What are the benefits?

Resources:

Books

No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover: A guide for men to break free from people-pleasing tendencies and embrace authenticity.
Iron John: A Book About Men by Robert Bly: A classic exploration of masculinity and personal growth.
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
The Four Agreements – by Don Miguel Ruiz
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore

Blogs

The Man Talk Blog: Offers insights and tips on relationships, emotional well-being, and personal growth.

The Good Men Project: A platform for men to share stories and explore modern masculinity.

Support Groups and Communities

Mankind Project: A global network of men’s groups focused on personal development and emotional intelligence.

Evryman: Facilitates men’s groups and retreats to foster emotional connection and growth.

For more about my co-host check him out - RyanSpanger.com.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Why Bottling Emotion Hurts - How to Start Expressing Yourself

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:00:00 +1000

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

If you push down your feelings and tell yourself to 'man up,' 'she’ll be righ't and keep going on with life, what happens?

Bottling your emotions will make you more confused, more frustrated, disconnected from your partner, your kids, your friends, yourself!

Despite telling yourself you’re fine, this internalising leaves you carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

If you find yourself bottling your emotions this episode is for you.

We’re breaking down how suppressing your feelings leads to cycles of stress, conflict in your relationship, and even harm your mental health.

We’ll talk about how opening up doesn’t make you weak – it makes you stronger, more present and more connected.

I share 6 Tips to get you started!

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

What are you not talking about with your partner? – Conversations That Strengthen Your Relationship

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +1000

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

If communication is the foundation of connection how come relationships can feel distant, strained and disconnected?

What are you not talking about with your partner?

You know those times when:

You want to share how you’re feeling, but you don’t know where to start, so you stay silent.
Your partner brings up an issue, and instead of addressing it, you either shut down or get defensive.
You feel like no matter what you say, it’s taken the wrong way, so you avoid the conversation altogether.
Or maybe you’ve tried to open up, but it feels awkward, and you’re not sure if you’re doing it ‘right.’

In this episode we discuss how you can change this, have better conversations and deepen the connection in your relationship

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Men's Hidden Distractions And How To Be More Present in a Relationship

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +1100

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Do you get distracted? What kind of distractions get in the way of the kind of relationship u wan t?

Do u ever feel:

Isolated
Disconnected
Mentally overloaded
Missing intimacy
Emotionally numb
Internalising too many thoughts

These are some of the consequences of distraction and a lack of presence…. the cornerstone of the connection u create with the love of your life!

In this episode we unpack :

Why does your presence matter?
What do you get distracted by, how do u maintain your attention and stay close and connected to the person u love?

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00] Speaker A: Do you ever get distracted? What kind of distractions get in the way of the kind of partner that you are or the kind of relationship that you want? Do you ever feel isolated or disconnected or mentally overloaded, Missing intimacy and maybe even struggling with emotional numbing and internalizing your thoughts?

[00:20] These are some of the consequences of distraction and in particular a lack of presence. Not the presence you get on your birthday. It's how you are attentive and available. It's the cornerstone of the connection you have with the love of your life.

[00:36] So stay with me. In this episode we unpack. Why does your presence matter? What do you get distracted by? How do you maintain your attention and stay close and connected to the person you love?

[00:50] Welcome to mantalk, a podcast of real conversations about life, your life, our life, and the emotional well being of men. My name is Howard Todd Collins. I'm the director of Men and Relationship Counseling, a counseling practice.

[01:04] Thank you for being here. Sit back and relax wherever you are and join me for the latest episode of Men Talk.

[01:28] Hello. Hello. Wherever you may be. I don't know, some people listen to me just sitting in a comfortable chair or some people are walking along the beach with the dog, some people are in the car, on the train, on a bus, on a tube.

[01:44] I don't know, wherever you are, I hope that you are going well. This latest episode of the mantalk podcast is, I think, quite relevant to the way we live our lives.

[01:53] Most of us get distracted for all sorts of reasons. There's always something to read online, listen to the news and particular. A lot of people carry lots of thoughts and feelings and ideas and tasks and so on that are locked in in their brain.

[02:08] What is it that gets you distracted in particular? Now, I've no doubt like many blokes that I meet every day, you will relate to some of these top five most common distractions for blokes in particular.

[02:21] Now, the first one, probably the most obvious for many people, but it's also particularly in relationship to this identity that we have at work. The work career pressures. Whether you are employed or self employed, how

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Breaking Negative Communication Patterns

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +1100

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Barriers to Communication - What does this actually mean?

How aware are you of what gets in the way of communicating effectively?

Why can it sometimes be so difficult to communicate in a relationship?

In this episode we’ll explore:

What emotional barriers mean
Why they exist
How they impact your relationship

And, most importantly, how to overcome them. You will get 4 actionable steps you can start using right now!

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Check out our Online Mini Course:

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

S.5. Ep. 1 What’s holding you back in 2025? How To Overcome Limiting Beliefs

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +1100

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

As you strive to create a fulfilling and meaningful life it’s likely you may occasionally get in your own way!

You know those seemingly invisible chains that hold you back from reaching your full potential, in relationships, in your career, personal growth, in your health and fitness, and overall well-being.

Most of us have limiting beliefs that can create all kinds of self-inflicted obstacles.

This episode, the first of 2025 looks at how can you manoeuvre that mind of yours and leap over any obstacles with the grace, speed and skill of an Olympic Hurdler!

I introduce to you a couple of ways designed to shift your mindset.

They are:

Thought Reversals

Psychological Flexibility

Click this link Acceptance and Commitment Therapy referenced in this episode to find out more.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your emotional health relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

S4. Ep. 6 Uncovering 4 Hidden Reasons Why Men Get Distracted

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +1100

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

Men often find themselves too busy and distracted from connecting with their partners. There are many reasons for this.

However, there are 4 hidden reasons why many men get distracted - which are harder to spot, because men don’t talk about them.

This episode uncovers some internalised patterns that can distract men, how they impact men's emotional wellbeing and some ideas of what men can do about it .

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your emotional health relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

S.4 Ep.5 Work Hard, Talk Hard - 5 Steps to Balance Life and Mental Health

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +1100

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

We live in a world that glorifies hustle culture—where the value of hard work and being busy is emphasized, but emotional health often takes a back seat. Many men find themselves caught between the desire to provide and the toll it takes on their mental well-being.

We’re conditioned to power through stress without talking about how we feel, but that just creates more pressure.

This episode is dedicated to all you blokes out there who know, deep down, that your mental health is suffering when the demands of life begin to overwhelm you and you metaphorically lose your balance

In this Movember Episode I’m going to expand on:

How a loss of balance impacts Men’s Emotional Health and Relationships
Some of the limiting beliefs that get in the way
5 steps designed to help you find more balance.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your emotional health relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Calm Under Pressure - Handling Stress and Anxiety with Confidence

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +1000

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

Life can be full of curveballs, uncertainties and moments that we simply haven’t planned for!

Stress and anxiety are hard to ignore.

If you've been feeling or ever felt worried, stressed, nervous, anxious and your brain has a mind of it’s own racing with overthinking, or looping thoughts - this episode is for you!

We look at a bloke's experience of stress and anxiety, how it impacts life and relationships.

Tune in to listen to how men get in their own way and what do to differently.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your emotional health relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

The Essential Ingredients of Good Communication in Your Relationship

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +1000

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

Good communication is vital for a healthy relationship. Obvious right!

Why do some men struggle with communicating with their partner?

This episode provides the practical skills to not only communicate better but to build stronger connection in your relationship.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

Taking The Heat Out Of Conflict And Get Closer To Your Partner

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +1000

Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

How do you manage conflict?

What do men experience when conflict gets in the way of a healthy relationship?

This episode takes a close look at negative conflict styles, how it impacts individual partners and relationships, and provides tips and strategies to see conflict as an opportunity to change.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Download a free guide:

Check out our Online Mini Course:

'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

How to Repair Emotional Distance in Your Relationship

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +1000

Have you ever wondered why emotional distance happens in a relationship?

It's more common than your realise.
What do men experience when this disconnection happens and what helps to reconnect with your partner?

This episode uncovers 6 ways to repair emotional disconnection.

Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?

Download a free guide:
Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner

Check out our Online Mini Course:
'From Shut Down to Communication - 4 Relationship Boosting Strategies for Men'

Follow us + Join the Conversation

If this episode raises a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Men and Relationships Counselling

Or reach out to a professional in your area.

S3 Episode 1 - How to have a successful relationship

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +1100

What is it that makes a relationship successful?

This episode is the first of the Man Talk Interviews and in it my colleague and good friend Naomi Rubinstein and I chat about the ingredients required in order to become a master of relationships as opposed to a disaster!

We discuss some of the processes values and relationship skills in the research.

A bit of our work with couples is shared and our brand new forthcoming Relationship Workshop is mentioned too!

Follow us + Join the Conversation

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

www.menandrelationships.com.au

Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

Naomi Rubinstein Counselling - www.caulfieldcounselling.com.au

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

How To Tame Your Brain - 8 Steps to Control Emotions

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +1100

Losing control of your emotions can be described in a variety of terms:

“hissy fit”
"throwing a tantrum"
“ fit of rage”
“losing the plot”
“ out of control “

The psychological terms that describe losing control of emotions include

‘'Flooding”'
“Dysregulation”
"Flipping your lid"

It’s the experience of emotions spinning out of control?

Whether triggered by an argument, a professional or personal failure, anxious about someone u love, extreme levels of stress, h uncontrolled emotions can lead to things being said and done in the heat of the moment.

So how do you get back control, or

“calm the farm”
“chill ya beans”
“settle your kettle”
“gentle your lentil”

It’s all about Emotion Regulation.

In this episode we will:

Explain what happens in your brain when you are ‘flooded’ ‘dysregulated’ or flipping your lid"
Define Emotion Regulation
Describe the Benefits of Self Regulating
Provide an 8 step process to Regulate your emotions

Follow us + Join the Conversation

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

www.menandrelationships.com.au

Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Hand Model of the Brain - Dr. Dan Siegel

If this episode raises your awareness of a need to get some counselling support, Howard is available for consultations in Australia.
Check out his private practice:

Men and Relationships Counselling

Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

S2. Ep. 3. The Other One About Anger!

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 15:00:00 +1100

In the book “Emotional Intelligence,” Daniel Goleman describes how anger causes blood to flow to our hands, making it easier for us to strike an enemy or hold a weapon. Our heart rate speeds up, and a rush of hormones…creates a surge of energy strong enough to take “vigorous action.”

In this way, he says, anger is ingrained into our brain to protect us.

What else do you know about the feelings and thoughts lurking underneath anger?

In this episode we take a look at:

A technique to help you make sense of what's underneath anger.
How to calm the farm and decrease the power of anger.
What to look out for in particular to determine if you need some help.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:
Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
The Anger Iceberg

Follow us + Join the Conversation

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

www.menandrelationships.com.au

Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

If this episode raises awareness of your need for counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.

Check out his private practice:

Men and Relationships Counselling

Or seek out some support in your local area.

S2. Ep. 2 The one about Anger - Part 1

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +1100

Do you get angry?
What kind of anger is it?
How do you make sense of anger and it’s impact on you and your life?

In this episode we take a deeper look at anger, one of the most primitive emotions we experience.

We’re going to explore:

Your relationship with anger
How Men Mask their anger
The 5 destructive types of Anger
A Positive and Constructive form of anger
The most important first step to understanding your anger

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INSTAGRAM

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www.menandrelationships.com.au

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If this episode raises your awareness of a need to get some counselling support Howard is available for consultations in Australia.
Check out his private practice:

Men and Relationships Counselling

S2. Ep. 1 Talking about Stress Takes Balls! - How big are yours?

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +1100

There are many men that withhold talking about their stress… for way too long.

It ‘s as if we don’t want to burden anyone!

It’s as if we are, invincible, even superman!

This episode dedicated to all the superman men, out there!

How do you know you’re stressed?
What happens in your mind? In your body? In your head?
Does your behaviour change?
What stresses u out?
How do you take care of your stress?

Recognising the symptoms of stress is the first step to managing your emotional health and wellbeing

In this episode we’re going to unpack the following:

What is stress?
Men’s particular relationship with stress - Some classic male symptoms
How Men and Women differ in their response to stress
Review some ways to Manage Stress
One thing that many men forget to do

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Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

Episode 5 - Men and Emotion Part 2 - Emotion and Feelings

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +1000

Do you find it’s hard to describe emotions or put into words exactly how you’re feeling?

There appears to be anywhere between 6, 8, or 34,000 emotions! You can see why emotions are messy and confusing.

This episode will provide a little more clarity.

Whilst feelings and emotions make our life colourful. Without them, where would we be? We'd be like robots and life would be……… pretty boring.

Emotions and feelings are often used interchangeably - are they really the same thing?

In this episode we are going to explore

Emotions – How many are there? What are they and their key ingredients
Feelings – Why we have them
The difference between Feelings and Emotions, and how to tell?

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Download Your Free Guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate With Your Partner

Episode 4. Men and Emotion Part 1 - To Feel or Not to Feel?

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +1000

Many men have a mixed relationship with emotions.

There are men who describe themselves as an ‘emotional retard’ a truly awful term, or some men who see themselves as ‘closed off’ or ‘numb’ to their feelings.

There are many dilemmas for men when it comes to feelings.

And yet, men's emotional lives are so important for understanding and maintaining good mental health.

In this episode Men and Emotion Part 1. we discuss To Feel or Not to Feel – That is the question.

Why men have such a hard time with emotions
What are we telling ourselves about feelings
Introduce 2 common types of responses to feelings, one healthy and one not so healthy!

Get your free guide - Better Conversations for Blokes - Quick and Simple Ways to Communicate with Your Partner:

FREE GUIDE

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www.menandrelationships.com.au

Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

Episode 3. Intimacy - It's not just about sex - is it?

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +1000

There’s a common myth that says men think about sex every 7 seconds!

That's more than 500 times an hour! And more than 8,000 times during the average day!

Men can get fixated with sex or physical affection sometimes above and beyond emotional closeness.

The truth is that men, women and all genders share the same needs for deep connection physically and emotionally.

In this episode we take a look at

Types of Intimacy
Definition of emotional intimacy
Some Common Obstacles
Why Emotional intimacy so important?
4 Steps to Build Intimacy

If this episode raises any concerns reach out to a mental health professional in your area.
If you're in Australia, counselling is available in person or online.
You can book a session with Howard.
BOOK NOW

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www.menandrelationships.com.au

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Episode 2. Man Up! What Kind Of Man Are You?

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +1000

Man Talk
Series 1. Episode 2.

Man Up! What Kind of Man Are You?

How have you become the man you are today?

What or who has influenced you?

This episode invites you to think about What Kind of Man Are You?

We explore what it means to be a man through the lens of:

Masculine Identity
Male Stereotypes
Values
Role Models

Resources from this Episode

Attitudes toward men and masculinity
VicHealth

The Gender Stereotypes in Media Report
Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

The Gillete Campaign
Gilette

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www.menandrelationships.com.au

Contact us - howard@menandrelationships.com.au

S1. Episode 1. Man Talk - The Who, the What and the Why?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:00:00 +1000