Three Reasons Therapy can be Helpful for Men
Historically speaking, society has put men in positions that required them to appear a certain way. Displaying emotions and talking about feelings were not high priorities or were even a liability in some roles. While things are shifting, the lasting effects of those expectations and norms have permeated cultures all over the world. One aspect in particular about the requirements of many of those roles is that in most cases, the expectation was that men didn’t show or even acknowledge that they had emotions. Not only was it not a requirement to be emotionally expressive, in most situations it was also not practical or even possible. While it may seem, in some ways, that men have become hardwired to compartmentalize their feelings, they have them, just as much as anyone else. There just traditionally have not been many examples of how to healthily access or express them, ao often modern men default to storing them away or bottling them up. For this reason, most men don’t see the value or reject the idea of going to therapy to communicate their feelings. It can feel awkward, unfamiliar, and maybe even unnecessary when it might actually be exactly what they are missing.
Here are three reasons why men should consider, or reconsider, giving therapy a try:
- Explore Your Identity
For many generations, there was a strong definition and acceptance of masculinity. Today, men are given many mixed messages. The media gives a skewed and narrow picture of what it means to be a man and often portrays destructive “toxic” masculinity tropes. Add to this the fact many men grow up in homes where the father figure was either fully absent or emotionally absent, and it is easier to see why many men struggle with their own sense of identity. Therapy offers men a safe space to create a healthy definition of what it means to be a man. It offers non judgemental opportunities to examine the outdated and often destructive expectations that are taken for granted and causing issues in their everyday lives, from how they show up as a parent, partner, or in their work lives.
- Improve Your Relationships
Because men often have a hard time communicating their feelings, their partners can be left feeling alone, emotionally neglected, and confused. This can cause significant problems in the relationship and disrupt the couple’s ability to connect, communicate, and parent effectively. Therapy can be a place for men to develop more effective communication strategies, explore expressing empathy, and find new ways communicating their needs, desires, and emotions. This not only helps them become a healthier version of themselves, but it can facilitate deeper connection with their partner, children, and other relationships.
- Learn Different Ways of Dealing or Handling Tough Situations
Grief, loss, trauma… these are sadly a part of life. Most people, especially men, have a very hard time navigating these types of mental health challenges. There often is not a safe space for them to outwardly show the pain or grief they are feeling. Therapy can be that place. It can help men explore their own emotional experience so they can heal and grow.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please contact us at hello@thebtrc.com. We would be happy to help you explore the different ways therapy can help you and your relationships.
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