In general terms, therapy or counseling is defined as treatment for a wide variety of mental health problems. I know, that’s pretty vague so I will tell you what I mean when I say therapy. Therapy is something you can do when you need extra help handling life’s challenges. I see clients who suffer from stress and anxiety disorders but, more often than not, I see people who want to improve their lives in some way. They want to see how they can become professionally successful. They want better relationships. They want to see how they can grow and become better versions of themselves. That’s what I think therapy can be for some and these are the people I typically see.
Having said that, I see a lot of men. Wait, that sounds weird. I mean, many of my clients are men. Keep in mind, I see professional women too and they often want similar things as stated above. I am not at all discounting their fabulousness. I am merely talking about men here for the sake of this article.
So Why is Therapy Good for Professional Men?
- Professional men often have an important position within a company or business. They have unique responsibilities which requires lots of brain power, time, and visibility. Some of these men have to make tough decisions on the fly. This can be extremely stressful. Where is the outlet? Many times there isn’t one, until they discover that talking about their stress in therapy provides one.
- Let’s face it, if you spent a lot of time grooming to be a “professional”, you probably didn’t spend much time learning about emotions. Many of these men live in a Think-Over-Feel type of environment. But…..THIS DOESN’T MEAN YOU DON’T FEEL. My male clients have come to learn the value of emotional expression. This doesn’t mean you come in and cry each time (I know some of you cringed at the thought of it). It means you are able to identify your many feelings and you can decide what to do with them.
- One of the complaints I often hear is difficulty in intimate relationships. Men are being asked to give more of themselves to their partners. These men present as confused, resentful, or lonely because some have been taught that financial responsibility is all they needed to bring to the table. Unfortunately, the byproduct of long-term problems in this area is a pattern of avoidance, unavailability, or passivity. Therapy can help shift this pattern to create more fulfilling marriages and partnerships.
- You got fired after a long-standing career at a company you gave a lot of yourself to. Your loyalty was met with a strong feeling of betrayal. This hurts. This hurts a lot. For professional men, this can hit really hard. Therapy can help rebuild confidence lost; maybe even enable you to trust in life again.
- Professional men have many relationships. They also have kids. Kids with different personalities; and chances are, you’ll be dealt one who doesn’t like to hide emotional expression. You can’t ask this kid to “strategize the problem” when all they need is your love, compassion, and understanding. Building emotional intelligence is critical if you want strong and meaningful relationships with others. This holds true in both personal and professional settings. You may need to fire someone one day and showing empathy in these cases makes a huge difference. Remember? You were fired too.
Based on my experience, these are five consistent reasons men seek therapy. If you are a professional male and have been thinking about therapy, I hope this article helped you make a decision. Your roles in life are many and asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you are human just like the rest of us.
Need more? Check out this link for more benefits. 4 Ways Everyone Can Benefit From Therapy
Thelma Franco, BBA, MBA, MS, LPC
For more information about me and my practice, please visit www.stress2strengthcounseling.com
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