Thanks to greater awareness and education around mental health issues coupled with the willingness of many high-profile athletes and celebrities to speak openly about these issues and the challenges they have faced in this area, the stigma surrounding men’s mental health has greatly reduced.
As a result, the number of men who have sought treatment for mental health concerns has risen over the last few decades. In 2021, approximately 12% of the male population in the U.S. received counseling or mental health treatment. In this article, we will explore some of the ways therapy can benefit men when it comes to their mental health and overall sense of well-being.
A Safe Space
While attitudes regarding gender roles have shifted significantly over the years making it easier for men to express their feelings and discard macho stereotypes of stoicism and emotional toughness, for some men being open and vulnerable with those around them can still be challenging. Whether it’s a fear of being judged, seen as weak, or a lack of supportive individuals in their lives, many men may find difficulty expressing challenging emotions in healthy and productive ways.
Therapy can offer men a safe space to vent their feelings and process their mental states without judgment. In this setting, men can feel listened to and supported, helping them to heal and gain greater mental stability.
Stress Relief
Modern life can present many stressors for men today. These can range from stressful work environments that demand optimal performance and long hours to societal pressures that require them to be the primary breadwinners and provide for their families.
Therapy can help men to become more aware of their stressors and develop effective coping mechanisms and strategies to reduce or counter their stress. From Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to hypnotherapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), there is a wide range of techniques available today to help men reduce their stress levels depending on their individual needs and circumstances. These therapeutic approaches can help men to better navigate the challenges of modern life with greater resilience, calmness, and control.
Heal Trauma
Trauma often lies at the root of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. These highly distressing experiences can create troubling thoughts and emotions in a person and lead to behaviors that greatly diminish their quality of life.
Therapy can help men who have experienced trauma to process the thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with a traumatic event and teach them practical skills and emotional regulation techniques to overcome the challenging symptoms they may be dealing with.
Psychotherapy options offered by therapists at United healthcare therapy is a powerful and transformative method of therapy that is often used to help survivors of trauma regain greater control over their lives and develop greater mental and emotional well-being.
There are many reasons why men may seek therapy today. In doing so, they are taking a positive step toward greater self-awareness and empowering themselves to meet life’s challenges in a healthy and balanced way.
