Men have taken on a specific role in human development over the span of hundreds of thousands of years. While roles have very recently shifted somewhat, historically speaking, men have been the ones to fight the wars and build society. And if you think about it, it’s pretty hard to feel emotions, let alone process them, while on bloody battlefields and balancing atop giant skyscrapers.

You could say, at this point in time, men have become hardwired to compartmentalize their feelings. They have them, just as much as women do, but they tend to store them away and get to them later. For this reason, most men buck at the idea of going to therapy to communicate their feelings.

The reality is, though, that men can, in fact, greatly benefit from therapy. Here are 3 reasons why men should at least give therapy a try:

Recover Your Sense of Identity

For many generations, there was a strong definition and acceptance of masculinity. Today, we are given a mix of messages from the media about what it means to be a man and how destructive “toxic” masculinity is. Add to this the fact that many men grew up in homes where the father was either fully absent or emotionally absent, they might struggle with their own sense of identity. Therapy offers men a space to create a healthy definition of what it means to be a man.

Improve Your Relationships

Because men often have a hard time communicating their feelings, their female partners can, in turn, feel abandoned and confused. This can cause problems in the relationship.

Therapy allows men to become a healthier version of themselves, one that can connect better with their partner.

Deal with Grief and Pain

Grief, loss, trauma… these are sadly a part of life. Most people, especially men, have a very hard time navigating these mental health challenges. Therapy helps men explore their own emotional pain so they can heal and move on.

These are just a few reasons why men should seriously consider trying therapy. If you’d like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me.

SOURCES:

● https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-angry-therapist/201701/why-i-think-all-men-need-therapy

● https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/men-issues/men-therapy

● https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fear-intimacy/201909/men-and-psychotherapy