Historically, there are cultural and societal barriers that prevent men (no matter their age) from receiving counseling, especially for trauma. At HCWC, we serve men, yet we have only seen 114 men in counseling services from 2024 to present.

Some of the barriers to counseling include: 

1. Mental health symptoms present differently in men and may not be recognized as such. 
2. Men prefer action-oriented problem solving, rather than emotional focus. 
3. Stoicism and self-reliance—traditional masculine norms equate strength by handling issues on their own. 
4. Vulnerability—can trigger shame, men can feel like they aren’t allowed to show this at any time and can feel they must always be strong. 
5. Generational violence is how they grew up; the abuse feels normal. 
6. Not wanting to open old wounds—if abuse happened in childhood and was not processed or reported, they fear talking about it now could cause relationship issues, especially if the abusive party is still around or outcries were not believed. 

via GIPHY

The good news is that there are ways we can help men start having important conversations around attending therapy services: 

1. Provide more qualified mentors and role models for young men. 
2. Form groups for and with men to help them support one another— group settings work best for men in therapy 
3. Having mental health discussions with men apart from women’s mental health— each is unique and should be taken seriously. 
4. Provide homework after sessions, men tend to want action-oriented goals. 
5. Have mental health conversations at home when children are still learning.