In this episode I'm joined by Kevin Fitzpatrick. We were connected thanks to an intro from one of my first guests, Jonathan Domanus. Kevin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has spent the last 40 years in the mental health field. He has been in full time private psychotherapy practice since 1989. Kevin started doing his own inner work, focused on masculinity, in the 1987 and has been active ever since. Our conversation today explores what he's learned both as a professional working with men's mental health and as a person experiencing mens work.

He have a life mission: to empower through healing, something that has evolved from both having a father who was a physician and having to work on his own healing. He's had a daily meditation practice for over 25 years and is a yoga practitioner and instructor. Kevin's and his wife have been married 40 years and have raised 2 sons to adulthood. When he's not working in the mental health field you can find him riding motorcycles, singing, and playing guitar.

Here are a few of the topics we'll cover:

- Why Kevin's been feeling depressed lately and how he manages
- COVID fatigue and trying to not trip before we get to the finish line
- Kevin's morning routine and why it's so important
- Why Kevin was tied up to a tree as a kid by his babysitter
- How he learned he had ADHD and how that led to depression
- Why Kevin got into social work and become a therapist
- How did Kevin get involved with Men's work?
- What did he experience during his first men's weekend?
- Why it's so hard for men to open up?
- What is a Victories weekend like?
- How they facilitate personal growth groups and why some last for 10+ years
- Why shame has really slowed the mens liberation movement
- What Kevin sees today in his practice with young adult men
- How he supports the young men he works with
- "Love them through it"
- "You gotta get your guts in to it!"
- Should loneliness be in the DSM?
- What does the future look like for men's mental health?
- Why you should be willing to move into the areas that scare you

Links & Mentions

The Places that Scare You

Pema Chodrun

Victories for Men

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