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"Counseling Men, Counseling Women"

The differences between men and women are usually subtle and often don't follow a stereotyped pattern. Then again, there's a reason for the stereotypes and a reason for counselors to know them.
—Jim Smith

He gave her a pair of shock absorbers for her birthday. She wasn't happy. She came to see me, dragging her husband behind.

"He's so insensitive," she complained about her husband. "He doesn't really care about me. He never thinks about what I want. What made him think I would want shock absorbers for my birthday? I sometimes wonder if he even loves me."

He couldn't understand the problem. "Heck, she's been complaining about the bouncy ride in the car. And our car was unsafe with the old shock absorbers. I thought she'd appreciate the fact that I'm watching out for her comfort and safety."

This brief, somewhat humorous composite of countless counseling experiences displays many of the dynamics that take place in counseling men and women. These dynamics are essential for me to understand. If ...

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March
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