Female Counselors Working With Male Clients Using Relational–Cultural Theory

With the therapeutic relationship verified as the primary factor in counseling outcome, it is important to identify theories that place the therapeutic relationship as a core value when counseling men. This chapter is framed from the perspective of female counselors working with male clients using the basic tenets of relational-cultural theory (RCT). It discusses the role of authenticity in work with men; the value of bidirectional empathy; and the various forms of connections, disconnections, and reconnections that frame men's lives. The chapter gives a brief review of the literature on masculinity and its influence on the counseling experience, and a discussion on gender issues as they relate to women counseling men. Power and control are central forces in men's lives, and these forces affect how they view themselves and relate to others, particularly when they either are marginalized or marginalize others.