A program to help boys develop resilience
and learn skills to deal with the stressors
and health risks of adolescence.
2007: Salal Books, Vancouver, BC
ISBN# 978-0-9698883-6-9    160 pages    $35.00

Just For Boys is a group program that addresses the societal pressures on boys and the health risks that they face to conform to a rigid and traditional definition of masculinity. It is based upon a belief that body image disturbances, eating disorders, substance abuse, bullying, and other such risks are coping mechanisms developed in order to deal with the personal and societal stressors in boys’ lives.

Just For Boys helps build resilience and teaches skills so that boys can deal with these stressors in a healthy way. It does this by helping boys develop a strong sense-of-self and learn emotional literacy, anger management and communication skills. It broadens the definition of what it means to be male and helps boys create a life of balance and interconnectedness that includes making a contribution to their families and to their communities.

Just For Boys can be used with boys in different stages of adolescence. The groups are designed to be facilitated by men and by women with varied personal experiences and professional orientations. The interconnected sections of the program can be used together to implement a complete program or used separately in classroom situations as part of a curriculum or to enhance existing programs.

The Just For Boys program manual includes:

  • A framework that is based on contemporary theories of brain sex and of male development, the interplay of biology and culture and the impact of socialization on boys.
  • The blueprint for the Just For Boys program.
  • Everything you ever wanted to know about starting and facilitating effective groups for boys.
  • Information on the risks that boys face: substance abuse (including steroids and sports supplements), depression, eating disorders, body image disturbances and muscle dysmorphia.
  • A framework for understanding prevention including the elements of prevention and the importance of peer groups.
  • 24 reproducible handouts,including evaluation forms and an introductory letter to parents.
  • Background information, rationale, learning outcomes and learning activities that address issues that are important to boys.

“Just For Boys hits the nail on the head — especially in terms of busting myths about masculinity, social networks, conflict and anger, creating safety and ‘Do No Harm.’ I wish I had such a resource when I was in elementary school or as part of my extra-curricular activity in scouts.”

Paul Gallant
eating disorders clinician and researcher
with a focus on males with eating disorders
Vancouver, BC

“I think that Just For Boys effectively brings together a good chunk of the data on boys and body image and transforms the research into action. This is a very well done manual and program — holistic, comprehensive, evidence-based and boy-centred.”

Derek Roelofson
Public Health Nursing
Vancouver Coastal Health, BC