Is it time to recalibrate your balance?
For some reason it's OK to contact a professional when the subject is aligning tires, but when it comes to creating life goals or deal with relationships, family and work - for whatever reason some men hesitate to reach out for professional counseling services.
Part of the issue, men might not know what to anticipate from therapy. They might worry that they will be laying on a couch, being asked to talk about their mother or their feelings, or not know what to say or do. Think of therapy as consultation with an expert, or a coach. Counseling is a collaborative process and clients can be direct with their therapist about what they need, what works for them and what does not.
Male or female, it's a sign of strength and courage to reach out if your are looking to create balance and health in your life. UB is conscientiously working to create a practice where men can efficiently and successfully deal with life's issues, within either individual or couples counseling. UB is proud to announce the addition of new male counselors who have recently joined our staff.
On how men can successfully benefit from entering counseling:
Jeremy Bergen LCPC, NCC
Chicago Office:
It takes strength to confront problems in your life and entering treatment is doing just that, being "man enough" if you will, to deal with what is going on in your life.
Jim Statler, LCSW
Chicago Office:
Often there is catharsis in just talking with someone else about their issues in a safe, confidential environment, as many men hold their feelings and troubles inside.
On Men Considering Counseling:
Jim Statler: I see many male clients who do not know or understand their range of emotions and just know that they feel "bad." Whether it is troubles at work or in relationships, addictive processes, death of parents, loss of job – these crisis events are what typically bring men in for counseling. Men are often afraid of counseling because they may feel they are expected to figure out their problems on their own. They are often more quiet when something is wrong and internalize their feelings perhaps not realizing that they eventually come out in other ways.
Jeremy Bergen: I usually tell my male clients who express some trepidation about entering counseling, who say they will be perceived as "weak" or unable to deal with their problems that, entering counseling is in fact the opposite of being weak.
Issues Men Can Frequently Successfully Resolve with Counseling:
a. Becoming their own grown, adult man (developing an identify and differentiating from their fathers/families/relationships)
b. Working at feeling positively about themselves and positively about themselves as a man
c. Celebrating their traditionally masculine strengths (decisiveness, directness, etc.) while also accessing traditionally feminine strengths (emotional connection, empathy, etc.) to achieve a personal balance and sense of wellness.
d. Developing communication and conflict resolution skills that will help them in their relationships and at work
e. Successfully managing the transition to marriage/commitment or fatherhood
f. Understanding how depression and anxiety can manifest differently in men (more irritability, isolation, internalization, etc.)
g. Understanding that culturally we are at a time where men don’t always receive the mentoring that they did years ago, that this loss of support and guidance can make the transition into adulthood overwhelming and anxiety provoking. Therapy can be a support.
For some reason it's OK to contact a professional when the subject is aligning tires, but when it comes to creating life goals or deal with relationships, family and work - for whatever reason some men hesitate to reach out for professional counseling services.
Part of the issue, men might not know what to anticipate from therapy. They might worry that they will be laying on a couch, being asked to talk about their mother or their feelings, or not know what to say or do. Think of therapy as consultation with an expert, or a coach. Counseling is a collaborative process and clients can be direct with their therapist about what they need, what works for them and what does not.
Male or female, it's a sign of strength and courage to reach out if your are looking to create balance and health in your life. UB is conscientiously working to create a practice where men can efficiently and successfully deal with life's issues, within either individual or couples counseling. UB is proud to announce the addition of new male counselors who have recently joined our staff.
On how men can successfully benefit from entering counseling:
Jeremy Bergen LCPC, NCC
Chicago Office:
It takes strength to confront problems in your life and entering treatment is doing just that, being "man enough" if you will, to deal with what is going on in your life.
Jim Statler, LCSW
Chicago Office:
Often there is catharsis in just talking with someone else about their issues in a safe, confidential environment, as many men hold their feelings and troubles inside.
On Men Considering Counseling:
Jim Statler: I see many male clients who do not know or understand their range of emotions and just know that they feel "bad." Whether it is troubles at work or in relationships, addictive processes, death of parents, loss of job – these crisis events are what typically bring men in for counseling. Men are often afraid of counseling because they may feel they are expected to figure out their problems on their own. They are often more quiet when something is wrong and internalize their feelings perhaps not realizing that they eventually come out in other ways.
Jeremy Bergen: I usually tell my male clients who express some trepidation about entering counseling, who say they will be perceived as "weak" or unable to deal with their problems that, entering counseling is in fact the opposite of being weak.
Issues Men Can Frequently Successfully Resolve with Counseling:
a. Becoming their own grown, adult man (developing an identify and differentiating from their fathers/families/relationships)
b. Working at feeling positively about themselves and positively about themselves as a man
c. Celebrating their traditionally masculine strengths (decisiveness, directness, etc.) while also accessing traditionally feminine strengths (emotional connection, empathy, etc.) to achieve a personal balance and sense of wellness.
d. Developing communication and conflict resolution skills that will help them in their relationships and at work
e. Successfully managing the transition to marriage/commitment or fatherhood
f. Understanding how depression and anxiety can manifest differently in men (more irritability, isolation, internalization, etc.)
g. Understanding that culturally we are at a time where men don’t always receive the mentoring that they did years ago, that this loss of support and guidance can make the transition into adulthood overwhelming and anxiety provoking. Therapy can be a support.