COUNSELING FOR EMERGING MEN

"In ordinary life, a mentor can guide a young man through various disciplines, helping to bring him out of boyhood into manhood; and that in turn is associated not with body building, but with building an emotional body capable of containing more than one sort of ecstasy.

― Robert Bly

About Counseling For Emerging Men

“Emerging Adulthood" is a relatively new term coined to describe the unique phase of life that has surfaced in America just in the last few decades. Loosely defined as the period between 18-25 years of age, emerging adulthood is marked by a feeling of “being in between." Emerging adults have pulled clear of the struggles of adolescence and are starting to feel responsible for themselves, but are still closely tied to parents and family.

Emerging men in particular are in need of more support during this critical place in their journey. These "Men Between" often sit at the crossroads of “Grow Up” and “Man Up,” with little guidance as to what either of those even mean. Well-meaning parents, still reeling from the healthy rebellion of teen years, can appear “too close” to the situation to provide meaningful help. Peers can provide much-needed emotional support and commiseration but lack the tools and perspective that comes with life experience.

My aim is to provide a space for young men to feel cared for and supported while also doing the difficult-but-rewarding work of self-discovery, discernment, and maturation. I want to empower Emerging Men to step into their full, healthy masculinity, to use their gifts and power for good, and to live life according to the stories of their own hearts. If you or a young man you know is feeling overwhelmed, lost, directionless, angry, or out of control, I am here to offer a firm but compassionate hand.

How Therapy With Me Can Help

  •  Provide a safe and confidential place to process aspects of life that seem difficult to bring up with parents and peers

  • Build social and relationship skills

  • Explore and re-evaluate relationship with alcohol and other substances/activities without labels or judgement

  • Learn skills for managing anxiety and overwhelm in order to tolerate more challenging situations

  • Begin uncovering a young man's unique gifts and talents so that he can serve the world passionately and compassionately

  • Explore and re-define adulthood, manhood, and masculinity

  • Learn to listen to, honor, and harmonize the various internal voices or "parts"

  • Provide support and guidance for increasing self-sufficiency while honoring our inherent relatedness

Common Reasons for Seeking Counseling for Men

Although each man is unique, my practice has illuminated many common reasons for seeking therapy.

  • For many of us, the truth of our masculine upbringings is that self-medicating behaviors like drinking and drug use are normalized and even encouraged. Even more “socially acceptable” forms of self-medication like excessive “workaholism” can be destructive to health and relationships.

    If you have a self-medicating habit that is creating significant disruptions in your life, now may be the time to get a handle on it. I can help you clarify your values and determine where, if at all, these activities have a place in your life.

    I find that men often shy away from therapy for fear of being labeled or judged. Please note that my approach to self-medication, substance use/abuse, and “addictions” is a collaborative one. I can help you take an honest look at your behavior without judging you, and I will never label you. I am here to help you name your problems and work through them in service of your overall wellbeing. I am not here to shame or punish you.

  • Men are often conditioned to “act out” their emotions. The result is that vulnerable and complex feelings of pain, sadness, fear, grief, and shame are transmuted into anger. Many of us need help tuning in and tending to these more tender feelings in ways that get our needs met without doing damage to our most important relationships. Whether you have the occasional-but-explosive outburst or have been described as an “angry man” by loved ones, I can help you get a grip on your emotional life.

  • Our masculine upbringings often emphasize performance and achievement at the expense of vulnerability and connection. Many men do not learn how to cultivate exceptional friendships and intimate relationships, if they learn to value relationships at all! It is not uncommon for a man to wake up one day and realize he is exceptionally lonely having neglected this important area of his life.

    Men no longer need to exist in the shame and isolation that is ultimately killing us. I am here to support you in cultivating relationships of significant depth and building a lifestyle that includes and prizes connection.

  • Many of us learn early on that masculine power is destructive. We may see the damage carried out by “strong” men in our lives and unconsciously suppress our own power to ward off shame and guilt. We keep ourselves weak and small thus “protecting” those around us but also robbing the world of our unique contribution.

    I believe your maleness is a gift. And your masculinity, however you come to define it, is also a gift. If you feel scared, stuck, or just struggling to “make things happen,” I can help you access and express more healthy, mature masculine energy.

  • A mentor of mine once described a mid-life crisis as “the day a man wakes up and realizes he is scared of everything.” While I believe everyone’s experiences are unique, these words have certainly rang true in my own life!

    Several cultural and social shifts, particularly around work and relationships, are thrusting men into crises earlier in life. I frequently work with men in their 20s and 30s who are experiencing a self-described “crisis.”

    Crises can take many forms. They can follow big events like a job loss or divorce. Or they can creep in slowly only to culminate with the sudden exclamation “I can’t do this anymore!” In reality, my best guess is that most of us will experience 3-5 major life transitions.

    I believe crises, while painful, can also be transformative with the right support. If you find yourself in the midst of a crisis or major life transition, I am here to see you through to the other side.

  • It’s an often-cited statistic that men are much less likely than women to seek help, whether from a medical or mental health professional. This tendency is no doubt compounded when it comes to sensitive topics like sexual function. As a sexual health professional, I am uniquely situated to non-judgmentally and compassionately support men dealing with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, low sexual desire, body image issues, performance anxiety, & more.

    Emerging men have unique needs when it comes to sexual health. This is often a period of sexual exploration that may also include deconstruction of destructive messages and sexual shame. Young men deserve a space to speak openly and honestly about their lives as sexual beings without fear of judgment.

  • Emerging men are often pulled between “finding themselves” and keeping up with peers. Whether we’re talking about jobs, finances, status, or influence, there seem to be no shortage of measuring sticks with which we can evaluate (and beat!) ourselves. The explosion of social media in recent years no doubt exacerbates this common tendency.

    I find this undo pressure not only robs young men of the joy of living, it inhibits their ability to explore and tap into their unique gifts. My goal as a therapist is to find a space for young men to relax these burdensome voices that echo social and familial pressures so they can feel liberated and empowered to fully become the individuals that they are.

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Recommended Resources

  • I Don’t Want to Talk About It, Terry Real

  • The Warrior’s Journey Home, Jed Diamond

  • Knights Without Armor, Aaron Kipnis

  • I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This, Julie Jansen

  • The Masculine In Relationship, G.S. Youngblood

  • Falling Upward, Richard Rohr

  • King, Warrior, Magician, Lover, Gillette & Moore

  • Wild At Heart, John Eldridge

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