Welcome to my website. I'm a clinical psychologist, and I've been practicing in Atlanta since 1995. I specialize in men's issues (see details below), relationship issues, and couples therapy. I see both men and women in individual therapy, but when women select me as a therapist, it's usually because they want to better understand the men in their lives.

What does the term Men's Issues mean?

Most men spend their adult lives pursuing financial success and professional status. Culture programs us to do that. Our genes probably do too. Thus, it comes as a surprise to many men who, after years of hard work, achieve their professional and financial goals but discover that this does not produce the happiness and contentment they had always expected. One reason men can wind up successful but unhappy is the well-established fact that men, in contrast to most women, allow their social networks to atrophy. Perhaps it is our focus on professional success that causes us to neglect friendships. Whatever the cause, eventually, many men find themselves with no one to call or hang out with.

Research has shown that most men have lots of friends during college, but 25 years later, many have come to rely almost exclusively on their spouse and children for social connection. If you find yourself in this position, you lack the sort of relationships that once provided you with opportunities for fun and fulfillment. Excessive reliance on your spouse can also lead to marital problems. Many additional factors contribute to men's unhappiness, including fundamental misconceptions about what makes human beings happy. (I'm currently writing about this and I'll add it to the site when I'm done.)

Over time, a shortage of good friends and accompanying feelings of isolation and unhappiness can lead to serious trouble. Some men turn inwardly and become depressed and withdrawn, not understanding why they are unhappy and not knowing the actions that could make them feel better. Other men attempt to assuage their dissatisfaction by acting outwardly, engaging in behaviors that make matters worse – e.g., excessive use of alcohol or other substances, sex (pornography, affairs, escorts), or compulsive preoccupation with otherwise healthy activities (golf, triathlons, etc.). All of the causes and consequences of men's unhappiness are men's issues.

I help men alter or discontinue problem behaviors, identify the sources of their unhappiness, and take actions that are more likely to lead to fulfillment.

Am I the right therapist for you?

I have a strong background in scientific psychology. This includes knowledge and training in social psychology (the study of normal interpersonal behavior), cognitive psychology (decision-making and other mental processes), and developmental psychology as well as clinical psychology. I draw upon the full breadth of my knowledge every day, as I try to help clients understand the issues they are confronting.

If you have been browsing therapists' websites, you have probably noticed that the majority do not have a Ph.D. in psychology. Most of these therapists have a master's degree in an allied field, and a few have a Ph.D. in something other than psychology. These therapists have been trained to administer specific treatments, and many do so competently and compassionately, but they generally do not have a strong background in the scientific principles that govern human behavior and decision-making. In my view, the relationship between a psychologist and a master's-level therapist is very similar to the relation between an internal medicine physician and a nurse-practitioner. If you visit either of them complaining of a sore throat, you are likely to receive a throat culture and an antibiotic if appropriate, but one professional has much greater knowledge about the possible causes of sore throats, and should be better at responding to issues that are complex or atypical.

If you have questions about my training or my approach to treatment, please phone (or email) me to ask.

To learn more about the work that I do and issues that clients frequently ask me about:

1) Read my Mental Health 101 page which discusses three factors that dramatically affect your psychological well-being. You may be able to modify these, reduce stress, and improve your mood without therapy!

2) Read about the work that I do with couples.

3) Read my thoughts about the controverisal topic of sex addiction.

4) Visit my page on other Important Topics.

© 2016 Glenn Hutchinson, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.