Midlands Psychological Associates

Balls is a call to arms for men to be the best that they can be. Being at their best starts with men being honest with themselves and then with the people in their lives. Balls is about courage, namely for men to courageously and honestly face the four challenges in their lives: words, women, work, and “wine” (addictions).

We describe how men can develop emotional maturity, which then leads to maturity in all other aspects of life. We further suggest that the problems with anger, avoidance, and addiction that visibly trouble most men are based on a deep-seated anxiety, which itself is due to the fact that most men have not had direction and encouragement to face the multitude of challenges and responsibilities that they face in this life.

This book is a blend of psychological theory, research, and our combined 100+ years of psychotherapy practice leading to practical suggestions for men to find courage in their lives…to find Balls.

A paradigm for understanding what may be the most important element of human psychology.

We suggest that people’s feelings can be understood, valued, and utilized in order to enliven them personally and enhance them interpersonally to such a degree that they can find true contentment, meaning, and satisfaction in life.

We have dared to unpack the murky waters of “feelings” with precision without falling prey to simplistic ideas of feelings nor complex neurological assessment of feelings. We propose that if people grasp how they feel, they will subsequently grasp how other people feel, and in this interchange of feelings, they will profoundly enhance communication and ultimately relationships.

Instructing, inspiring, and encouraging people to have a special understanding of themselves and other people.

We describe four different temperaments that exist in people identified as “lovers” who love the world, “analysts” who understand the world, “caretakers” who protect the world, and “players” who experience the world. People with these four temperaments also approach family, friends, work and relationships all quite differently.

This work focuses on the strengths and challenges of each temperament together with practical suggestions for conversation and engagement based on how differently they experience, feel, think, and do things. There is also a call for maturity within and beyond one’s basic temperament.

Sadness is generally characterized as a negative emotion, yet experiencing sadness plays a positive and key role in achieving and maintaining mental health and in avoiding anxiety, depression, and anger.

The Positive Power of Sadness examines the experience of sadness, taking into account the personal, relational, and neurological factors of sadness; explains the cultural reasons that many resist feeling sad and consequently displace sadness into secondary processes; and provides a practical and systematic way to overcome anger, anxiety, and depression by allowing the normal process of being sad to occur.

This simple paradigm of love and loss causing joy and sorrow in tandem is founded on solid research, carefully considered theory, and extensive experience, and serves to stimulate further thought and writing. Professional therapists, psychologists, counselors, teachers, and clergy who work with people in various settings will find this enlightening reading, as will general readers seeking self-help or those possessing an interest in psychological functioning or relational difficulties.