Counseling Therapy * Life Coaching * Consulting

Man Therapy

Why should a man seek out therapy?

Because you can’t fix Emotions with duct tape.

What is “Man Therapy”?

Believe it or not, men have emotions too. They just don’t express or process those emotions the way women do. Man therapy is geared towards the natural way men express and process their problems.

Traditional therapy is often tailored to how women express and process emotions, some men do well in this type of counseling however, this does not work well for most men. For instance, men and women express depression differently. Unlike women, most men don’t exhibit the sad, self loathing behavior associated with depression. Men often express depression as feeling angry and irritated or a loss of control. The early stages of depression in men are often missed because the symptoms are usually different.

Men are taught to be self-reliant and to provide for and protect their family. The inner rationale is that it is appropriate to hide their emotions is order to protect their loved ones. Another factor is the roles we see our parents playing.

Many men have experienced fathers who were emotionally distant, who rarely, if ever, cried or expressed affection outwardly. The way we see our parents behave may become the unconscious template for our behavior. Popular culture also plays a role by characterizing the hero as fearless, resourceful, stoic and usually facing adversity alone.

 

men have emotions too

Emotions.   (those touchy feely things)

The four basic emotions are Happiness, Sadness, Anger, and Fear. These emotions serve a valuable purpose and are a normal response to threat and loss that everyone feels. However, sadness, anger, and fear are often seen as unacceptable in our culture. Men will often try to hide these emotions from themselves and those around them. They do so by:

Withdrawing from family and friends
Working longer hours
Spending more time away from home
Consuming more alcohol
Behaving recklessly and/or violently
Excessive video games

We might not always be able to identify what we’re feeling or have the words to describe our emotions. Men may feel uncomfortable talking to someone about them, leading to frustration in relationships when they cannot express their needs, fears and grief.

 

Most common issues for men

Loneliness

Stress

Depression

Anxiety.

These issues can be brought on by divorce, loss of job, life changes, trauma, addictions

These issues can also be treated successfully. Counseling therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication

 

Talk about it

The man therapy approach is more like a coaching session. We identify what the issues are, explore possible solutions, and create a plan to apply those solutions. It is a safe place to express your emotions and get clarity on the issues and the solutions.

Not talking or expressing your emotions can lead to

Addictions (alcohol, drugs, spending, gambling, sex, dangerous activities)

A greater sense of isolation & more pain

Less support being available from family & friends

Anger, irritability, additional stress, inability to control behavior

Health issues, due to carrying chronic tension in the body and other bad coping strategies

Psychological problems such as depression, insomnia and anxiety.

Relationship difficulties due to an inability to resolve emotional conflicts and/or a perceived lack of ability to be intimate.

Men are naturally wired to try to fix problems on their own. Instead of calling in a professional, men will grab that roll of trusty duct tape or JB Weld to fix whatever is broken or leaking. Instead of calling a therapist, they use alcohol, video games, television and reckless activities to deal with mental health issues.
Men are known for bottling things up. But when you’re feeling down, taking action to call in an expert is the responsible thing to do.  A professional counselor can help you find effective ways to manage emotions and get healthy. Trying to handle it alone increases the risk of depression or anxiety going unrecognized and untreated. Depression is a high risk factor for suicide in men which is 4 times higher than in women.  “On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives”. Men’s mental health varies during their life, and can move back and forth with a range between positive and healthy to severe symptoms that impact on everyday life in response to different stressors and experiences.  Managing your mental health effectively with a professional can give you significant improvements in your quality of life, increase your capacity to support your family and friends, and be able to perform at your best.

Stop treating your brain like a leaky toilet or a flickering light bulb.

Duct tape can’t fix mental health.

Ditch the duct tape and get professional help

Contact us to schedule an appointment.