Why I think all men need therapy / life coaching

Let me preface this by saying I’m part of the group that needs therapy too. Just because I’m a licensed therapist doesn’t mean I don’t need therapy. I have many, many things to work on, one of which is getting back into therapy. But I still haven‘t seen a therapist in a while. You may think that makes me a hypocrite, but it is my truth. I would rather be honest than pretend to be someone I am not.

Here’s what I’ve learned from both my personal and professional experiences: Growth is not a light switch. It’s a lifestyle, something we must thread into our daily lives. And therapy can be the needle to guide that thread.

Yes, women also need therapy. But multiple studies and researchers have pointed to the fact that although women make up nearly two-thirds of therapy patients, men arguably benefit more from the process. I believe that all men need therapy, and these are four of the most compelling reasons:

1. This generation doesn’t clearly define the male identity.

You might argue that this lack of definition is about the culture of 2017. Society had a strong definition of “the ideal man” in the 1920s, 1940s, 1950s, etc. But I believe it has to do with the fact that we live in a fatherless nation.

More than ever, our fathers are either physically absent or emotionally unavailable. So how does a son learn who he is as he crosses into manhood? He doesn’t. The shadow of a suggestion of an identity he struggles with is one learned through advertising, media, and coping.

I worked as a therapist in residential treatment for about six years. I treated teens struggling with addiction, and the vast majority had an absent father. The boys clung to me, desperate for a positive male role model. They wanted a guide, a mentor, a man to teach them about life — what all boys crave at that age. I know I did. Deprived of that, they fill the void in unhealthy ways.

Therapy is a safe space for men who grew up with absent dads (which may be most of us) to process the loss we’ve suffered, whether we realize it or not, and to create a new, healthy definition of what it means to be a man.

2. Therapy helps you find tools that will exponentially improve your relationships.

Generally speaking, men tend to maneuver more on a logical plane and women on an emotional one. Many men struggle to express their feelings, eventually leaving their partners in the dark, resulting in couples being separated by the unspoken issues between them. Eventually, they grow apart.

I see this all the time in the couples I coach: Men tend to go into “fix-it” mode instead of expressing themselves and holding a safe space for their partner. They struggle with using “I feel” statements and don’t practice building their communication muscles. Because therapists are trained to help you explore and process feelings, seeing a therapist is like visiting an emotional gym and exercising these expression muscles. Once we have the ability to express ourselves, we can be present, and create a safe space for our partner to talk to us. Then confrontations can turn into healthy conversations, creating closeness, trust, and stronger relationships.

Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you have problems. It means you want to be a healthier version of yourself. It means adding more tools to your toolbox; tools that will translate directly into your relationship.

Your partner will see the difference in you and may be inspired to go on his or her own journey. Now we have two pistons pumping: You’ve stopped the tug-of-war and started to move in the same direction. This is the only way to improve a relationship.

It’s never about the other person. It’s about you.

3. It’s the only way a lot of men ever learn to stop trying to fix everything.

Men tend to think they can do everything by themselves, and not necessarily because of ego. It’s a pressure we put on ourselves to take care of the people we care about. When it comes to relationships, sometimes we don’t realize that we are only 50 percent of the equation.

By thinking we can fix it, we can easily cross the line into controlling behavior without even knowing it. That means we have to let go of what we can’t control, and just focus on ourselves. This is what therapy is all about. Therapists are trained to keep the focus on the client so they can take ownership of their issues and let go of other people’s.

I believe that with this mindset, the dynamic of a relationship will shift. There will be a lot less pressure and a lot more trust. Of course, women can do the same. But from coaching hundreds of women, I’ve learned that the majority do want their partner to take the lead. It gives them hope and builds trust. Then they become inspired to work on anything they need to improve.

We subconsciously get into a chess game with each other. We won’t change or work on ourselves unless the other person does, too. But the only things that grow in that dynamic are anger and resentment.

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4. We have a responsibility to be better men than our fathers were.

Very few of us have had amazing fathers / mentors. And of the ones who do, this last one isn’t for you. But most of our fathers have been absent, either emotionally or phyiscally. Most of our fathers have been abusive, controlling, and irresponsible. Most of our fathers had poor male role models in their lives themselves.

I know it’s 2017, and much progress has been made, but men still tend to shy away or get embarrassed about seeing therapists. There’s a pervasive misconception that therapy is for people with “problems”. And people think life coaching isn’t legit but life coaching is a real thing today, and there are powerful life coaches out there who can help you with relationships, including the one with yourself.

Men, just talking to your friends, who are biased, and can’t advise them with the same experience, perspective, or authority. Men tend to associate “treatment” with weakness. I think we believe that if we see a therapist, we are admitting defeat. We are admitting we can’t fix it on our own. That last part is actually true; we can’t. But that’s OK.

Imagine if men went to therapy as much as they go to the gym. How many relationships would be saved? How many sons would have a healthier definition of manhood? And how many daughters would have higher self-esteem and a sharper radar when it came to boys? Imagine how much pain and destruction we could avoid. Then tell me therapy is not a good idea.

• Angry

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