ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to increase counselors’ awareness of the cultural factors and their intersectionality, so as to enhance ability to address the issues that men bring to counseling. It provides counselors with clinical strategies that they can translate into their everyday practice in ways that improve men’s health through the integrated pathway of religion, spirituality, and masculinity. The book also provides readers with similar examples from the extant literature to enhance awareness and knowledge and follow up those examples with cases steeped in clinical practice to strengthen skills and apply in one’s own practice. It suggests ways that counselors can assess their client’s religious identity and spiritual beliefs, conceptualize how the client uses or not uses religion in their life in harmful and/or healthy ways, and provides counseling interventions that are related to their client’s use of religion.
