AUDIO EXCERPT OF 4 JUNE 2017 USA INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY NATIONAL TELECONFERENCE ON MEN'S EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH

The National Teleconference on Men’s Emotional, Psychological and Spiritual Health was hosted by the USA International Men’s Day Team on Sunday, 4 June 2017 from 2:00 P.M. (E.D.T.) through 4:00 P.M. (E.D.T.). It launched the United States observation of Men’s Health Month during the month of June and International Men’s Health Week which begins on June 12, 2017. Diane A. Sears, the United States Coordinator for International Men’s Day served as the Moderator for the National Teleconference. The emotional, psychological, and spiritual health of Men and Boys continues to be one of the proverbial “elephants in the room”. We are all impacted by the emotional, psychological, and spiritual health of the 3.7 billion souls who are males in our global village and the trauma they have experienced. It affects parenting, marriages, the workplace, our families, our communities, our nation and our world. And the panel of Masculine Psychology and Men’s Issues Thought Leaders -- Rick Belden, David DuBay, Peter Feeney, Rick Fortier, Jeffrey Jackson, Syris Metara, and Jonathan Pratt have a lot to say about it. Here is an excerpt of this powerful and straight-no chaser dialogue:






A LOOK AT THE PANELISTS:


RICK BELDEN

Rick Belden is a member of the Communities Advisory Board for New Male Studies, (http://www.newmalestudies.com) an online interdisciplinary journal hosted by the Australian Institute of Male Health and Studies for research and discussion of issues facing boys and men worldwide, and a member of the Editorial Board of the ManKind Project Journal (http://mankindprojectjournal.org). His literary works explore the utilization of creative expression, dreamwork, personal mythology, and listening to the body as tools for self-healing. Belden’s book, Iron Man Family Outing: Poems About Transition Into A More Conscious Manhood (www.amazon.com) is widely used as an aid in exploring masculine psychology and men’s issues by therapists, counselors and Men’s Group throughout our global village. Belden’s book has also become a resource for Men who made their journey from childhood to adulthood in dysfunctional, abusive, and neglectful families. A prolific poet, Belden’s poem "Fused At The Wound" has been featured in the best-selling book, The Human Magnet Syndrome: Why We Love People Who Hurt Us, authored by Ross Rosenberg (www.amazon.com). Mr. Belden’s essays on a myriad of issues related to masculine psychology have been published by the Good Men Project (www.goodmenproject.com) and Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com).

DAVID DUBAY

Dave DuBay is a Men’s Issues Advocate, social worker, and creator and moderator of a blog – The Painted Porch (https://thepaintedporch.net), which features a number of his essays, and is a Contributing Author for the Good Men Project (http://goodmenproject.com).

Peter C. Feeney

Peter C. Feeney is a Lead Clinician and Program Manager at the Glenn Creek Lodge, a “trauma informed facility” and component of the River Ridge System (www.riveridgemn.com) that has developed a reputation for working with men with significant trauma histories, offering them a safe place to explore and helping them to begin to resolve their past.  Feeney was a member of the team that developed the facility’s programming which encompassed the trauma group.  He has  developed the curriculum for the Men's Issues and Emotions Groups at the facility; facilitated Family Programming for both inpatient and outpatient clients; and  co-facilitated the Helping Men Recover Curriculum in outpatient programming, Diversion Programming for youthful offenders, and Chemical Health Education classes. Feeney is fully developing the residential, dual diagnosis facility Glen Creek Lodge through the lens of trauma-informed services for Men.

RICK FORTIER

Rick Fortier is an advocate for redefining the traditional definition and stigmas of masculinity, teaching and encouraging men to live a life of authenticity, integrity and vulnerability. He has contributed articles to The Good Men Project and Getting High On Recovery, in addition to being a featured guest on several Podcasts, sharing his personal story of challenges, addictions, recovery and growth. Rick is inspired to empower men through cognitive tools and techniques, located at choosingtothrive.com, and articles, videos and personal podcast at rickfortier.me. He is a certified SMART Recovery© Facilitator and is currently completing NLP Practitioner certification. Rick is married to his best friend, is honored to be the father of four nonconforming and confident adult children, and grandfather of four beautiful bright lights.

JEFFREY JACKSON

Jeff Jackson is a Fatherhood Advocate, the creator and owner of one of the top 50 Fatherhood blogs – Daddy Is Best (http://daddyisbest.com), He is happily married and is the daddy of twins. Jeff has had several careers but is most proud of being a professional actor for a few years. Jeff and his family live just north of New York City.

SYRIS METARA
Syris Metara is an artist and visionary who specializes in Paradigm Analysis and Design.


JONATHAN PRATT

Jonathan Pratt is a Men’s Issues Advocate, musician, artist, writer and creator of a blog which can be viewed at https://jaklumen.wordpress.com. His involvement in the Men’s Movement in the past two decades stems from his friendship with Masculine Psychology Thought Leader Robert Belden together with his reading of Robert Bly's "Iron John", Gilette & Moore's "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover", and Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With A Thousand Faces".