NEW!!!               JUST FOR BOYS              NEW!!!

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 to conform to a rigid and traditional definition of masculinity and the health risks that they are vulnerable to. It is based upon a belief that eating disorders, body image disturbances, substance abuse 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 boys build resilience and teaches them skills so that they 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 a part of a curriculum and to enhance existing programs of many different types.

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.

 

   

 

Background 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.

 

   

 

A blueprint for the Just For Boys program.

 

 

 

Everything you ever wanted to know about starting and facilitating effective groups for boys.

 

   

Background Information, rationale, learning outcomes and learning activities that address issues that are important to boys.

              Module 1 helps boys build a strong sense of self.

 

              Module 2: helps boys expand their range of feelings, develop empathy, learn anger management and

              communication skills.

 

              Module 3: helps boys understand why it’s hard to change your body and encourages them to accept

               the body they have. It reframes our thinking about obesity, promotes Health at Every Size and teaches

               boys about puberty, genes and metabolism.

 

              Module 4: teaches boys about gender roles and stereotypes, broadens the definition of masculinity,

              and addresses media, the current drive for muscularity and the increase in steroid use.

 

              Module 5: addresses support networks, cooperative learning and making a contribution to the family

               and community.

 

   

 

24 reproducible handouts-including evaluation forms and an introductory letter to parents.
.

   

 

Resources such as books, programs  and websites that you can use to enhance your understanding and your practice.

   

An extensive up-to-date bibliography.

"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

experienced eating disorders clinician

and researcher with a focus on

 males with eating disorders

Vancouver, BC

"We are looking forward to doing the program. We really liked the self-bottle in Module 1. We were glad that you talked of boys and toughness because in the communities that we work in the boys can not be seen as weak or they are bullied or teased. This module is the most important to us and will be given extra time."

 Rita Schultz

Heather Turcotte

Community Wellness Coordinators

Tisdale, SK

"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 Nurse

Vancouver Coastal Health, BC

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