Counseling for Men in Denver
Time for a shocking truth, guys: Duct tape can’t fix everything. When it comes to your mental and emotional health it’s important to know that it’s okay to seek outside help. I know that is not an easy thing to do.
Since you were little, you were likely taught an old-fashioned, rigid idea of what it is to “be a man”: Ignore the uncomfortable, push through the pain, and never, ever admit something is bothering you. In reality, that’s a recipe for getting emotionally tied up in the kind of knots that would make a boy scout proud.
Anxiety and depression affect men at the same rate as they do women, but men are significantly less likely to seek treatment. And that’s where I come in. I’m Mike Garrison and I offer therapy for men in Denver.
Men’s issues can take many different forms. You may be feeling down, anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, or full of self-doubt. Perhaps anger seems to hold a central place in your life, and you’re not even sure why you feel angry all the time. Work performance may be declining. Your romantic relationship may feel like an uphill push, or your partner may be telling you that you seem emotionally shut down. You may be using porn or sex to fill a void or relieve anxiety in your life…all the while knowing it’s getting you nowhere.
Whatever the case may be for you, let’s team up and find out what’s at the root of the problem and how to best grow beyond it. At Headway Counseling, I help men grapple with these issues and more in therapy specifically tailored to men like you. I don’t believe in dodging the inconvenient or uncomfortable feelings. I’ll help you take them head on, and master them in a way that allows you to begin making forward progress in your life. I’ll help you set tangible goals, and then make the changes in your life that will put them within reach.
If you’re ready to start feeling better, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.
My Approach to Therapy for Men in Denver
Whether you’re seeking out counseling because you want to, need to, or are being told to by your partner I know it can feel intimidating. But the likely truth is – however you discovered it – is that what you’ve been doing isn’t working and it’s time to work with a guide. As men, we like to “fix” things but sometimes the fix is beyond our experience and it’s time to call in a professional guide to help create a space where you can work on yourself, to gently call you out on your excuses, and to help see your blind spots.
My approach to counseling for men will start with an overview of what you’re experiencing coupled with what you want your life to look like, be it mentally, emotionally, personally, or professionally. I believe in straight talk and candid feedback. You’ll find my approach easy going, but I’ll always be work to help you move toward a better version of yourself.
Often, when I work with men in counseling, I pursue what psychologists call a “solution-focused” approach to treatment. Basically, that means I’m going to make sure our work together focuses on identifying problems and developing solutions. With this approach we’ll be focused on your strengths more than weaknesses, and in your future more than your past.
While often effective, solution-focused therapy by itself doesn’t always get us where we need to go. Before we can build a better future, sometimes we have to go to your past and work through misconceptions, past trauma or guilt, or life paradigms that are no longer serving you well. So, I’ll work in other treatment modalities like Motivational Interviewing, Existential Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and even some Psychodynamic work. If past trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is present, I am trained in a modality called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) that has been shown to be effective in helping to leave past trauma behind.
Together, we’ll work to vanquish the challenges you’re facing and to help you move forward in your life – better, stronger, and smarter than before.
Men’s Issues FAQs
Should a man see a male therapist?
As always, it is up to the individual to decide because everyone is different. Many men do seek out a male therapist for men’s counseling because they prefer a male perspective and want to work with someone that has shared the male experience. Some men feel more comfortable talking about personal issues with a male therapist, and often can benefit from seeing first-hand from another man that it's natural to experience and express (and often incredibly unhealthy to bury) emotions. Of course, regardless of gender, you should always seek a therapist that makes you comfortable.
What’s the biggest hurdle in men’s therapy?
Think about the common archetype of what it means to “be a man” in our society: From a young age, men are often taught to push aside emotions, and to shut down our own inner voice. Turn on the TV. There we are told that male identity is fashioned from things like war, work, dominance, and sex. What often ends up missing from our lives is far more powerful: Reflection. Your biggest hurdle may be different, but many men find themselves uncomfortable in the act of reflection. Reflection requires stillness, vulnerability, honesty, and uncomfortable experiencing of emotions. Learning this skill can change your life.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just feeling lost. How can counseling help?
Because men are so often taught to evade their inner voice, it can be hard to get in touch with the reasons why life seems confusing or unsatisfying. In therapy, you’ll learn to have a conversation with that part of your that has been shut off from the world. Therapy can be a powerful way to get to know yourself and find a new way of looking at life. Learning to move from your brain to your heart requires hard work, but can lead to a healthier relationships, powerful authenticity, and a more satisfying life. As L. Frank Baum wrote in his classic book The Wizard of Oz, “’I shall take the heart,’ returned the Tin Woodsman; ‘for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.’”