Regardless of what life circumstances: married, single, gay, straight or bisexual, males typically experience stress in their role as men.

Until recently history, there was little demand for men to develop a capacity for emotional connection. As men, their basic role was to protect and provide for their families by virtue of physical strength, whereas, the female role was to nurture and socialize. However, with modern society no longer dependent on physical strength, the male role is far less clear. Men are expected – even pressured – to become more emotionally available, expressive and nurturing.

The call for increased emotional connectedness is even more complicated by the fact that in adolescence, males are pressured against appearing weak, vulnerable or emotional. Competition and winning are valued — while expressions of emotional vulnerability are discouraged. How often do we hear, "Man up!"

It is conservatively estimated that approximately 1 in 10 men have experienced some form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse as children. One must consider the impact of these traumatic experiences in a person’s adult life. The result is that young men very often act out their pain through aggressive and destructive behavior, and carry their emotional pain and trauma into adulthood.

This combination of suppressed feelings, emotional wounds, and demands for emotional availability result in conflict and stress in both their personal and professional lives.

AREAS OF FOCUS OF MEN'S THERAPY