I’m a licensed therapist who works primarily with men who struggle in their relationships. Most show up in one of two ways: overwhelming in their communication (dominating conversations, over-explaining, defensive) or completely disconnected (shut down, dismissive, checked out). Both patterns stem from the same issue: limited self-awareness about what they’re thinking and feeling, which often leads them to see relationship problems as someone else’s fault. I run The Feedback Forum, a structured group process where men develop emotional maturity through skill development, direct feedback and repeated practice. What I see repeatedly are men who talk too much, shut down entirely, or genuinely don’t know what they’re feeling—and don’t understand why their relationships are so difficult.