This post is part one of a two-part series.

During this time of upheaval in our society, when traditionally stabilizing forces are crumbling, not only institutions, but also the roles of men and women undergo changes. Caught between old ways of being and knowing and before new institutions arise to replace the old order, individuals suffer.

Mental health statistics tell us boys and men are currently experiencing higher levels of distress than women and girls.1 For the men in my life, and as a writer, I wanted to understand why. To delve deeper into methods of care and repair around issues of manhood and masculinity, I’ve asked Tyler Schueffner, LPC-IT, to discuss his uniquely varied and in-depth approach to working with men and boys, especially those from working-class and marginalized communities.

Tyler is a trauma-informed, existentially grounded therapist based in Madison, WI. After working with at-risk youth and men for years, he currently provides mental health services to older adults (60 ) at Newbridge Madison. He is also building a private practice with a clinical focus on wellness for working-class men.

I was introduced to Tyler through my daughter Jessie, whose own visionary work involves working with populations at risk.2

Dale Kushner: How do you think growing up in a blue-collar family in Wisconsin has influenced your work as a therapist?

Tyler Schueffner: Coming from a working-class background brings a relational depth often missing in clinical settings. While therapeutic training emphasizes bias awareness, it frequently overlooks the marginalization of blue-collar communities. Many clients I see have expressed feeling judged by past therapists. Repairing this rupture and offering therapy that is accessible, respectful, and grounded in lived experience—not professional pretense—is foundational. I’m not trying to be an........

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