Daniel Ellenberg, PhD, is a leadership coach, licensed therapist, seminar leader, and group facilitator.He is a principal in both Rewire Leadership Institute and Relationships That Work. He leads Strength with Heart men’s groups and workshops, is the president-elect of an American Psychological Association division (Society for the Psychological Study of Men & Masculinities) and wrote his PhD dissertation on psychological aspects of the male sex role. He is also a member of the boy-in-education taskforce for his APA division. He is co-author (with his wife) of Lovers for Life: Creating Lasting Passion, Trust, and True Partnership. He co-created and delivered both resilience and leadership training programs for several NASA space centers. He is currently co-authoring a book on men and leadership and is a board trustee at the Wellspring Institute of Neuroscience and Contemplative Practice. He also leads workshops on how to have courageous conversations as well as develop self-compassion.
Personal Statement and Opening Comment
I am personally most interested in the relationship between male health seeking behavior in relation and common male conditioning (for example, don’t ask for help or show emotional vulnerability). In this regard, I am very passionate about connecting positive regard about masculinity to health consciousness. Connected to this theme, I believe it is essential to unpack male depression and its psychological roots. Male depression is often undiagnosed because it does not align with a traditional understanding of depression. Boys and men tend to externalize their covert depression through addictions, risky behavior, and suicide. Helping males develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion are key to overcoming these challenges. I am heartened by the many male athletes and actors who are breaking the conspiracy of silence regarding male depression.