Your Thursday Three Things for 20 February, 2025

Men, Therapy, and the Strength in Asking for Help!

Let’s talk about something that a lot of men avoid like the plague… therapy.

For way too long, therapy has been seen as a “last resort” for men. You hit rock bottom? Now it’s okay to seek help. But if you’re just struggling, feeling stuck, or trying to process life’s everyday stress? Nah, bro, tough it out. Be a man. Handle it yourself.

Sound familiar?

The problem with this mindset is that it leaves men suffering in silence. Therapy isn’t about weakness… it’s about strength. It’s about understanding yourself, handling stress better, improving your relationships, and, most importantly, breaking the cycle of pretending everything is fine when it’s not.

And that’s exactly what we dug into on our latest Men Talking Mindfulness episode with Dr. Audra Horney, where we tackled the stigma, the struggles, and the benefits of therapy for men. Check it out here: https://pod.fo/e/2ae392.

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Why Men Avoid Therapy (And Why That Needs to Change)

1. We’re Told to "Man Up" Instead From a young age, we’re taught that emotions = weakness. Boys don’t cry. Be tough. Push through. But here’s the reality: bottling up emotions doesn’t make them disappear… it just buries them deeper. Therapy gives men the tools to process emotions without losing their sense of masculinity. In fact, it strengthens it.

2. We Think We Have to “Fix It” on Our Own A lot of men see therapy as a problem-solving tool rather than a growth tool. If nothing is “broken,” why go? (which is ironic considering how many of us have tried to “fix” things that weren’t broken!! Remember Tim the Tool Man Taylor?!) But therapy isn’t about fixing… it’s about understanding yourself better so you can navigate life with more clarity and confidence.

3. We Don’t Want to Be Vulnerable Look, vulnerability is tough. But it’s also where growth happens. Therapy provides a safe space to be real… without judgment, without expectations, without needing to “perform.” And when men start showing up fully, their relationships, careers, and overall mental health improve.

   Watch a quick snippet of the show with Dr. Horney explaining why men avoid therapy and what therapy can do for us!

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Three Things to Help You (Or Someone You Know) Break the Stigma