Off The Couch Off The Couch Ft. Cheryl Hurst, LCSW-R NYS

In this compelling episode, co-hosts Cheryl and AL tackle a deeply sensitive and often overlooked issue: the sexual assault of men. The conversation begins with AL sharing a powerful social media post from a male colleague recounting his own assault, sparking a broader discussion on the varied reactions it received.

Cheryl and AL also delve into how patriarchal norms and rigid societal expectations shape the discourse around male sexual assault, often stifling open conversation and support. They explore the cultural and psychological barriers that prevent men from speaking out and the unique challenges faced by Black men in these situations.

The episode then transitions into a discussion on actionable steps men can take to support each other and begin the healing process. Cheryl and AL highlight the importance of creating safe spaces for men to share their stories and offer practical advice on how to foster a more supportive community.

Tune in for an eye-opening discussion that aims to break the silence and offer hope and resources for those in need. Additional support and resources are provided in the show notes


RAINN  -  RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice



https://www.rainn.org/national-resources-sexual-assault-survivors-and-their-loved-ones



Understanding Male Socialization, Stigma, and Reactions to Sexual Violence - National Sexual Violence Resource Center



https://www.nsvrc.org/working-male-survivors-sexual-violence/Understanding

Hey Ya’ll it's Off the Couch. In this episode, Cheryl & Albery discuss the theme of ‘forgiveness,’ specifically forgiving oneself.  Together, they navigate the intricate role forgiveness plays in our journey toward healing and personal growth. In addition, Albery and Cheryl share real-life anecdotes and expert insights on the complex nature of forgiveness in the presence of harm.  Listeners are asked to consider the question- is forgiveness necessary? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Forgiveness”: as defined by Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/forgiveness
“Is forgiveness necessary for healing?” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lost-in-the-reflecting-pool/202101/is-forgiveness-necessary-healing


*Episode Cover art by: Cheryl Hurst
*Outro Music By: Albery Abreu

Hey Ya’ll. It's Off the Couch. In this episode, Albery & Cheryl discuss empathy. They examine the importance and challenges of maintaining empathy in their professional work with men who have perpetrated violence within their partnerships. Albery and Cheryl define empathy and explore the benefits for men who have caused harm to practice empathy (even if emotions might be intense). Cheryl presents a unique question to ask to bridge connections with others in our life. The hosts acknowledge how hard empathy may be and encourage us all to practice reaching towards finding more empathy for each other. Are you up for an empathy challenge? 


Special congrats to Albery for passing his SW licensing exam! 



https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-clinical-social-worker/license-requirements 



The importance of clinicians finding professional support (& training) to ensure best practices. Check out some of these resources!:



https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/programs/disc-training-program.html 


https://www.biscmi.org/resources/aquila-resources/ 





AL presents 4 steps towards empathy (Brene Brown)

Hey ya’ll in this episode, Co-hosts Cheryl and Al have a discussion on their thoughts on the term “Mental Health”, their experiences in trying to get men into therapy, experiences of providing therapy to men, barriers preventing people from engaging in mental health services, tips on helping a loved one take their mental health a bit more seriously, and much more! Tune in!



Would love to follow up with us? Please contact us at Offthecouch.ac@gmail.com. Send us questions, thoughts, comments, compliments, feedback - anything! We'd appreciate the support. Make sure to follow and subscribe! Thanks!



Resources/Show notes:



https://www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf - “The present document articulates guidelines that enhance gender- and culture-sensitive psychological practice with boys and men from diverse backgrounds in the United States. These guide-lines provide general recommendations for psychologists who seek to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills in psychological practice with boys and men.”


https://experiencelife.lifetime.life/article/the-six-pillars-of-self-esteem/ - SIX PILLARS OF SELF-ESTEEM Article.

https://grapeshotmq.com.au/2019/05/regulars-idgi-toxic-masculinity-101/

Hey Ya’ll. It's Off the Couch. In this episode, Cheryl & Albery catch up to discuss the issue of teen dating violence. The conversation is sparked by Albery’s experience working alongside teens in addressing dating violence. The co-host talks through the definition of abuse, examples of the abusive behaviors, and provides support and tips on how to help those affected by dating violence/abuse. With this episode, Cheryl & Albery hope to continue  reminding everyone about the importance of this issue and why we need to consistently talk about dating violence. 


HowManyTeensAreAffected? (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teendatingviolence/fastfact.html) 


https://www.loveisrespect.org/ 


https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/domestic-sexual-violence/teen-dating-violence 



Would love to follow up with us? Please contact us at Offthecouch.ac@gmail.com. Send us questions, thoughts, comments, compliments, feedback - anything! We'd appreciate the support. Make sure to follow and subscribe! Thanks!

In this second episode, Co-host Cheryl and Al continue to discuss their experiences and thoughts on the clinical side of social work and delve more into their collaborative work that allows them to connect with men (fathers). Cheryl and Al briefly discuss the history of abusive partner intervention work, what modality they utilize to work with fathers, and tips for engagement.