For 20 years, I’ve been teaching and researching men’s psychology: helping men spot the habits that trip them up and figure out how to change them.
Has someone in your life insisted you go to therapy?
Is something not working, but you can’t quite name it?
Men come to me when anger feels hard to control, or when talking about emotions feels uncomfortable but necessary to break negative cycles. I understand how pressure, expectations, and unspoken rules can make asking for help feel challenging.
Clients Come To Me When They’re:
- Detached in their relationships
- Repeating patterns to avoid emotions
- Overwhelmed by work
- Feeling Stuck
- Not sure what’s wrong
These are really just signals your body is using to tell you something is wrong. Emotions are like gauges on a dashboard, giving us information about the world. The problem isn’t having these emotions; it’s deciding how you respond effectively to those signals.
What Therapy With Me Is Like
When you come to therapy, you won’t have to carry the conversation or decide where it goes. I come prepared with a plan to help you feel at ease and comfortable.
We start slowly, at a pace that feels comfortable for you, focusing on what’s happening now, where it came from, and how to shift the patterns that keep showing up. Therapy is where the pressure starts to loosen—and breathing becomes a little easier.
Modalities I Use
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps identify unhelpful thought patterns to reduce self-blame, rigidity, and all-or-nothing thinking.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Builds emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Especially useful when emotions feel too strong or too quick.
Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)
Supports men who tend to overcontrol, stay guarded, or shut down. Increases flexibility and openness in relationships.
Schema Therapy
Helps uncover old roles or beliefs learned early in life. Breaks long-standing patterns that show up in relationships and work.
Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
Strengthens communication and emotional skills to make expressing needs feel more natural.
This Therapy Has Results:
- Feeling more yourself
- Healthier relationships
- Confidence in the future
- Life beyond work
- Less guilt + shame
- Breaking old patterns
- Living by your values
Many men say therapy helps them finally feel in control of their life, not controlled by outside pressures. Let’s connect.
About William Elder, PhD
I grew up in a rural community where men didn’t talk about emotions. I saw men try to do everything themselves, even when it created stress or burnout. That experience informs my work today.
For 20+ years, I’ve focused on men’s psychology: researching it, teaching it, and helping men in therapy. I understand how culture, family, and early experiences shape what men feel they’re allowed to feel. My approach is direct, structured, and evidence-based.
In our sessions, we’ll explore your thoughts and actions, build a practical plan, and talk about emotions in a way that fits you. Together, we’ll figure out the kind of man you want to be and the steps to get there.
Availability: I see patients online in Utah + Texas. Also PSYPACT authorized.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
- PhD, Counseling Psychology, University of Utah
- BS, Psychology and Gender Studies, University of Utah
- Pre-Doctoral Internship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship at South Texas Veterans Health Care System
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Licensed Psychologist: Utah and Texas
- PSYPACT authorized provider
- Advanced training in trauma therapies, including CPT, PE, ACT, DBT skills, Unified Protocol, STAIR, CBCT
- APA Division 51 Practitioner of the Year
- APA Division 44 Distinguished Professional Contribution
3 Steps To Get Started
Contact Me
Send a message and share what brings you in.
Brief Consultation
We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and I’ll outline what to expect.
Meet for a Session
We’ll create a treatment plan to achieve your goals.