The Primal Method: A Book for Emerging Men

by Gregory Koufacos

"Powerful and contemporary. Offers practical tools for young men and for those working with young men." --Michael Gurian, NY Times bestselling author of The Wonder of Boys and Saving Our Sons

The general public is starting to recognize what parents, teachers and therapists have known for we are losing our young men. Now more than ever, emerging men between 16 and 35 find themselves stuck in limbo between adolescence and adulthood. Addictions, anxieties, egos, and overwhelming expectations leave them trapped in childhood, frustrated with their lives, and feeling forced to cope with drugs, porn, and video games. For too many young men, this vital period has gone from a stage of emergence to a state of emergency.

In The Primal Method, addiction counselor and therapist Gregory Koufacos draws from his extensive background with troubled young men to identify what has gone wrong, why traditional therapy often fails, and how emerging men can break their debilitating cycles. Using vivid examples from his professional career and own life, Koufacos demonstrates the use of the walking cure, Miyagi mentoring, emphatic challenge, and other techniques that harness young men’s primal motivation to live a life of power and purpose.

"Gregory Koufacos shares a remarkable journey that lays out what every young man must walk through to find significance and a life mission. Gregory shares with us how he moved from a deeply frustrated and confused man to a wonderfully creative, powerful and loving one. There is a healing journey in these pages . . . you will be changed!"--Gregory L. Jantz, PhD, bestselling author The Anxiety Reset and #hooked

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2020

Reviews

[Omar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reminder of what being a man truly entails, and where you can end up if you decide not to take an active role in your upbringing.

[BRAD A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful

Greg had an interesting and inspiring life story, and the anecdotes he shared were interesting. It was a quick read, but worth it.

[Ismo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great insights for anyone who works with young men who are trying to find their way. The book is written in a very simple, straightforward manner so it's an excellent book to recommend to someone who doesn't read much or has a short attention span (i.e. the target group).

[Jackie Alfieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have a son? Know a young man between 12-30? This should be required reading. Many young men are struggling to find their center, their purpose, and navigate relationships of all kinds. This book explains why and identifies what “emerging men” need to thrive as adults. Read this book.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is short. However, the stories of redemption set the stage and bring substance to the physicality of boys: their need to move, to engage with the physical world as a path to spiritual, cerebral and introspective worlds. There are no rituals recommended, but there is a well presented, and supported premise to get out there, leap into the fray.. be the "..man in the arena?" I sought inspiration for raising my two teenage boys - and it made me think more about my own behavior towards them in a meaningful way - hopefully to find a different way to engage that might prove more meaningful to them. Last night, I took them swing dancing to a live Rockabilly band. One ate his extra sandwich, read a book and took a nap. I found the other asking woman to dance and showing courage that genuinely surprised me - no phone, no device, but real life.

[Nick D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half autobiography and half description of Koufacos's practice with young men. Koufacos was an athlete who didn't have much of a purpose after his football career ended. He became a therapist/counselor for men and his technique entails doing things outdoors like hiking (or whatever else the person likes) to facilitate talk therapy. He says that young men need a role model of an older, experienced male who can show what interacting with the world should look like.

Kind of geared to addicts but nonetheless has some general insight for young people who need to take control of their lives. Addicts are known for blaming other people for their problems - something we could all do less of.

[Kathidfsmc · Rating 5 out of 5]

The primal method

This was a very heartfelt down to earth book and easy to read. It definitely describes what is going on with some of our young men and what it has taken to rise up from the depths of where they find themselves

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting discussion of what men need from counseling different than women. A book of mentoring and crisis counseling that connects the basic need of men to find purpose in the doing of things for & within the context of their communities, families, and friendships. Koufacos's story adds a powerful anecdotal story to support this different twist to addressing the mental health of men in our modern culture.