Counseling for Men
Have you felt like you are not functioning as well as you should be? Maybe you have some symptoms like fatigue or low mood and find yourself scrolling on your phone longer than you intended. Perhaps you have gained weight and are not eating very healthy. Or maybe you had a tough day and realize there aren’t many people in your life you feel comfortable talking to about some of the challenges you are encountering.
These are some of the common ways that men can start to experience themselves as they age and realize they are not living up to their potential. Because men are often socialized to “suck it up” and internalize messages that suggest that you quietly suffer to achieve “real manhood,” a host of symptoms and a sense of being alone are common features of being a man in the US.
The good news is we get to choose to counter the programming we have often received from our parents, the media, even our friends, and start to open up to others about the inevitable challenges of being human in a time of immense pressure. Counseling can function as a release valve to look at our lives and determine what is working for us and what is not serving our goals. So if you want to build better habits, let go of problematic coping styles, and achieve greater well-being than counseling may be for you.
FAQs About Counseling for Men
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There was a time when therapy was only for those that society considered “crazy or psychotic.” Over time, counseling has broadened to be supportive to people who are struggling to function, to people doing well and wanting to optimize their performance in the world.
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It is actually a sign of insecurity to never ask for help and try to do everything on your own. People who have a healthy self-esteem can ask for help and not feel threatened that this reflects a weakness.
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Most of us can look at our schedule and figure out how to prioritize an hour of our week to continue to improve our lives. Additionally, you can speed up the rate of your progress and reduce how much you spend by using time between sessions to work on your goals.
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Talk therapy is not a panacea and may fall short for people. Talk therapy works well when the client is ready, when the therapist and client match is strong, and the goals are realistic. When all those are in alignment, outcomes suggest that talk therapy is beneficial towards improving one’s relationships with others and oneself.