Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook for Raising Resilient Boys

A practical and research-backed discussion of how to improve mental, emotional, academic, and life outcomes for boys

In Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook for Raising Resilient Boys, child and adolescent mental health expert and psychotherapist Dr. Katie Hurley delivers a timely and important discussion about the urgent crisis facing boys today. She carefully examines the societal pressures and toxic masculinity that negatively impact boys' mental health, academic performance, and social relationships.

The book offers actionable steps for both parents and educators who work to support boys aged 5 to 15. It demonstrates how to help them develop emotional resilience, empathy, and healthy relationships. You'll also find:

• Hands-on and practical steps that parents, caregivers, teachers, and others can implement immediately to improve outcomes for the boys they're responsible for
• Scripts and strategies for helping young and teenage boys improve their relationships and lives
• The latest research on pre-adolescent and adolescent boys

Perfect for the parents of boys, educators, teachers, coaches, and mental health professionals, Breaking the Boy Code is an essential strategy guide for improving the lives of boys everywhere and for helping them meet the extraordinary challenges posed by contemporary life.

Author: Katie Hurley
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: 03/31/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.03lbs
Size: 8.88h x 6.35w x 0.72d
ISBN: 9781394345113

About the Author

DR. KATIE HURLEY, LCSW, DSW, is a highly respected child and adolescent mental health expert, psychotherapist, parenting educator, and public speaker. With 25 years of experience, she is the author of several award-winning books and Vice President of Community Initiatives for The Jed Foundation.