Healthy Relationships Therapy Group for Gay Men

Upcoming therapy group

Ongoing Virtual

A safe space for gay men to heal interpersonal trauma and develop healthy relationships by nurturing connection, self-worth, respect, and authenticity.

This Week

Mon @ 3:00 - 4:30 am

Next meeting: Tue, Dec 24, 2024

Meets virtually

Meets every week

$80 per session

Pay per session

8 seats left

Save my seat!

BLOG CONTACT FAQ POLICIES

This group is intended for

Do you find yourself struggling to sustain friendships with other gay men, feeling pessimistic about romance, comparing yourself to others and ranking yourself as inferior, being easily swayed by others desires, and/or self-medicating with substances to feel better?

You’re not alone. It’s actually a common experience in the gay community to feel uncertain of your value and to have your relational needs continue to go unmet as an adult. This manifests in the emotional body constantly feeling disappointed, unfulfilled, and let down.

The missing link here, however, is that this is often a pattern that you continue from childhood into adulthood. Many gay men desire more fulfilling relationships but haven’t had the awareness, resources, or courage to name our trauma (lowercase “t” or uppercase “T”) and dedicate ourselves to healing from our wounds. We all have some form of trauma in our life experience, whether that be the inherent trauma of life that occurs through growing up as imperfect humans, or particularly painful and scarring events.

Since you’re not alone in this experience, why continue to go through it alone? Especially when healing often happens more quickly through shared experiences with others. This group provides a supportive space where you can commit to consistently showing up for healing and fostering a new path forward in your life.

You can expect

Meet weekly for at least 6 months with other gay men who are committed to showing up for themselves and each other.

PRACTICE OWNING YOUR VOICE: Clear communication is key in healthy relationships, but it takes practice! Explore speaking and revealing yourself in a safe, affirming space with feedback. Experiment freely—listen and speak more than usual. Participation isn't prescribed; you're supported to be silent or talkative as you feel, without pressure to perform.

DEVELOP BOUNDARIES: Learn to identify and maintain your own boundaries and the needs of other group members while also upholding the boundaries of the group structure, such as regular attendance and refraining from interacting outside of group sessions for the duration of their participation.

CULTIVATE RESPECT: Foster open dialogue and embrace healthy disagreement and conflict without enforcing politeness or withholding truths.

EXPERIENCE SAFETY: Feeling safe often happens when you feel seen, held, and affirmed. This group consists entirely of gay men, ensuring all participants understand the shared trauma of growing up gay and its impact. You can process any specific traumas you're ready to share in a safe space among those who share your identity.

NURTURE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS: Examine your dating and friendship patterns to make connections around better understanding interpersonal human phenomenon. Practice noticing when you or group members are getting pulled into toxicity or setting themselves up for heartache and encourage healthy discernment.

About Michael PezzulloMA Marriage & Family Therapist

I have specialized clinical experience working with gay men, cultivated through years of practice in residential, intensive outpatient, and individual therapeutic settings.

My job as a therapist is to ask tough questions and be bold! I find honesty interesting and enlivening. I like to lean in and gain clarity about what is emerging, both in therapeutic relationships and in the world. I am adept at being clear and direct, and I do not particularly like ambiguity. In other words, I practice what I preach! I am pleased to say that I have a strong sense of self-worth and no longer feel like an imposter.

While the chaotic nature of my household growing up could have continued to pull me in different directions, I instead channeled my healing into learning how to tune out the noise and clarify my authentic voice. Learning to turn inward, rather than be swayed by external influences, was not always easy for me and often involved struggle. I’m proud of how I navigate my boundaries these days and find great satisfaction in teaching other gay men to do the same.

Likewise, I find great comfort in my relationships. I am happily married and possess a strong ability to discern healthy and unhealthy traits in others. I apply this skill in my work with clients who struggle with discernment, often finding themselves drawn back into toxic relationships and re-experiencing trauma. One of my primary passions as a therapist is assisting gay men in developing their own ability to discern healthy relationships, empowering them to establish and maintain their own standards and boundaries.