Depression in men is marked by low mood or irritability, loss of interest and/or pleasure, anger, escapist behaviors, isolation, and substance use. It can be a passing episode or more chronic. I treat depression in my clients by understanding underlying causes. These causes might be something like: unfulfillment in relationships or career; unprocessed or residual trauma; low self-esteem; generally feeling “stuck.” We simultaneously address symptoms by caring for the body through managing sleep, diet, and movement. We will break down that huge mountain you see in front of you into smaller, achievable steps.
Some level of anxiety is normal and expected in our day to day. But sometimes it can become debilitating. Men tend to experience anxiety by feeling on edge, avoiding certain situations, feeling unstable, using substances, or extreme muscle tension. Anxiety is our built-in threat response system, and this is the framework in which I treat it. We will understand your anxiety through a threat lens: what about getting critical feedback feels threatening? Why do you shut down when your girlfriend gets upset? What is so unsettling about going to that social function? We must first understand anxiety by identifying triggers, responses, and potential origins. Anxiety lives in the body. We will manage symptoms through breathwork, emotional regulation, and grounding techniques.
Almost every client that chooses to work with me comes with some level of shame. Shame is typically experienced as a belief that you are fundamentally flawed in some way. In the modern world of “man haters” it’s no wonder that men are being made to feel like they are wrong simply for being male. The effects can range from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. Shame can look like low self-esteem, a belief that they are incapable of change, or general avoidance. I treat shame by having us understand its origin and mechanism as a protective defense.
We are all familiar with this one, especially with modern models of masculinity. Anger is typically an outward expression of something deeper happening internally. We will learn how to manage your anger while understanding where it’s coming from.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity and it begins in childhood. I see many male clients with ADHD, as it is more prevalent among men than women. It presents differently in men too. Men and boys have different expectations placed on them by our society which is exhausting. ADHD in men tends to exhibit relational problems, intense stress/anxiety/depression, and difficulty at work.
Many of my ADHD clients experience:
Impaired sexual functioning in men can look like: erectile dysfunction, difficulty achieving sexual orgasm, problematic pornography use, or general arousal dysfunction. Many times these symptoms are linked to other mental symptoms (like depression or anxiety) as coping mechanisms or symptoms. After ruling out medical explanations through your doctor, we will seek to understand the function of distressing sexual behaviors, and identify alternative behaviors.
Many of my clients choose to work with me to simply gain a better understanding of themselves. I've also worked with clients on sports performance, fatherhood, and substance use. You don't need to have a "disorder" to work with me. We can work on concrete or abstract therapy goals.
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