about Hutch W.
“As a couples therapist, I help clients connect with themselves and their personal experiences as the first step of reconnecting with their partner. In the therapy relationship, I rely on the relaxed & calm nature of my Southern upbringing to build rapport with even the most reluctant clients. Growing up with a single mother allowed me to connect to my emotions in a way that most men struggle with. Through a lifetime of connecting with both my logical and emotional worlds, I help bridge the gap between men’s and women’s communication styles, allowing both parties to feel heard and seen as they repair the relationship and find new means of connection.
Unlike many therapists, I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of engaging clients who feel they are being dragged to therapy, especially men. I understand the hesitancy of clients who are new to therapy, don’t know what to expect, and aren’t as comfortable with emotional vulnerability as their partner may be. I help these clients feel safe in the therapy space by normalizing their conflicting feelings of wanting to meet their partner’s emotional needs while also feeling uncertainty in unpacking vulnerable topics.
In addition to working with couples, I work individually with men who feel disconnected from their family; men who find themselves buried in the safety of work chaos in order to avoid the emotional discomfort of going home. My experience working in an addiction treatment facility informs how I help clients learn new ways of coping with difficult and uncomfortable feelings instead of numbing out with alcohol, drugs, TV, sports, porn, or food.
Many of the men I work with have achieved their dream life - the perfect job, the beautiful family, the house in the great school district - but they struggle to sustain the weight of the pressure and wonder why having achieved their dream doesn’t feel as satisfying as they thought it would.
The thing I value most about being a therapist is the opportunity to provide a space in which men feel comfortable enough to explore difficult experiences they have buried deep and kept heavily guarded. Creating opportunities for social support from other men and having a place to talk about how hard it can be to open up is transformational work that is shifting the culture of masculinity. Many of the men I work with start therapy not knowing the basics of emotional awareness and expression and struggle to coach their young children in the very skills they were never taught during childhood. Once my clients begin to connect with their feelings, they are able to experience the deep relational satisfaction of helping their partner or kids navigate their own difficult feelings.
My previous experience working in an addiction treatment facility gave me insight into how pivotal incorporating loved ones into the treatment process is. This led me down the path of pursuing my training in couple and family therapy. I know firsthand the power that working with an individual in therapy can have on their family and their community. The only approach more powerful than individual therapy is relational therapy. Healing and mending relationships that are hurting can create a long-lasting impact.
My move from North Carolina to Los Angeles and finally to Chicago to attend Adler University fulfilled one of my childhood dreams. Growing up I loved watching Michael Jordan, and I always dreamt of living by Lake Michigan and having the “big city living” experience (as they say down south). In my free time, I love playing golf, watching sports, grilling, and spending time with my folks.”
“Through a lifetime of connecting with both my logical and emotional worlds, I help bridge the gap between men’s and women’s communication styles, allowing both parties to feel heard and seen as they repair the relationship and find new means of connection.”
- Hutch wheless, M.A. (he/him/his)
Hutch is a therapist fellow at Empower Family Therapy. He has completed his Master of Arts in Couple & Family Therapy and has clinical experience. Hutch is on track for licensure and receives direct supervision under Tina Shrader, LMFT, founder and owner of Empower Family Therapy.
To schedule an appointment with Hutch, contact us and mention his name.
Hutch’S SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
Communication issues with partners who struggle reconciling logical & emotional differences
Sex Therapy, Intimacy Issues, Emotional Intimacy, Kink
Men’s Issues: Stress management, family of origin/childhood issues, gender roles, work stress
Substance abuse and addiction for the individual and their family
First Responders & Veterans
Trauma, Abuse, & PTSD
Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain