Have you been thinking about seeking the professional advice of a therapist for the first time to help you deal with depression, anxiety, relationship, or addiction issues?
Maybe you’ve hit a plateau in your current therapy sessions and feel like it’s time to find someone new to work with?
Perhaps a therapist of another gender such as a male therapist might help you confront and solve the problems you face that prevent you from living a happy, harmonious, and productive life?
While most psychotherapists tend to be women, sometimes patients prefer the advice of a male therapist for various reasons and motivations.
Here are the main reasons why people seek a male therapist.
1. They Prefer a Male Perspective
Many psychotherapists bring their own life experiences into their therapy sessions when working with clients. In this case, a male therapist can talk about obstacles he’s overcome in his own life and share them in psychotherapy sessions.
Men and women possess different ways of viewing the world around them based on their experiences, thought processes, behaviors, and attitudes.
Seeking a male psychotherapist who has gone through issues you’re experiencing right now may provide empathy for you.
On the other hand, women may benefit from seeing a male therapist because he can explain the behaviors and the mindsets of how men think and act in relationships.
Talking with a professional male therapist may help her to have empathy for the man in her life and understand the motivations behind his actions and behaviors.
2. They Feel More Comfortable Speaking About Topics with Other Men
Some men feel more comfortable in the company of other men than they do in the company of women. Depending on past relationships with women, they may feel shy speaking to women.
Discussing issues with another man about certain topics like sexual performance issues or relationships with women may be easier to discuss with a male professional.
What’s most important in therapy sessions is that the patient feels comfortable with their therapist. This comfort level enables them to open up about personal issues.
When men are uncomfortable speaking to women, it can hinder the progress of their therapy. In this situation, some men may be hesitant to dig deeper into emotional issues with women because they are too fearful to open up.
3. They Want to Join a Men’s Group Therapy with a Male Leader
Some men who attend a men’s therapy group may be more comfortable opening up with a male group therapy leader. A client may feel like a woman might judge him for actions he’s taken against women.
While the goal of every therapist should be non-judgmental, therapists are only human. A man may be afraid of admitting aggressive actions he’s taken towards women for fear of being judged by a female therapist.
Some of the issues he may be dealing with include having difficulty controlling anger, physical abuse, or even sexual abuse.
Male clients may feel that a female therapist will lack empathy into why he took these actions and judge him for lacking self-control in volatile situations.
4. They Were A Victim of Abuse Enacted by a Female
When a man has experienced verbal or physical abuse by a female such as a family member or spouse, he may feel wary of discussing the situation freely with a female therapist.
This is especially apparent if he has harbored negative feelings about women in general. Seeing a male therapist may eliminate the triggers and stresses he would feel speaking with a woman.
These triggers and stresses could impede his progress during therapy. Especially if the patient has not ended the abusive relationship.
5. They’re a Boy Who Needs a Male Role Model
In a single-parent household where the parent is a female, a child may have no male role model in his life. Speaking with a male therapist may provide the boy with an opportunity to engage with a positive male role model.
When a boy has been abandoned, it can be quite helpful to build a safe, professional relationship with another man he can confide in to rebuild his trust.
It may be safer for a boy to reveal feelings to a male therapist that he may not be able to discuss with his mother. Especially when the mother hasn’t learned how to communicate effectively with the child.
She may place blame on the boy which could make him feel unsafe discussing his feelings because the mother hasn’t worked through her own issues.
6. They Need to Understand It’s Normal for Men to Express Feelings
“Boys Don’t Cry.” You’ve heard the old adage many times. Unfortunately, even though times are progressing, many men still feel that it’s “weak” to cry or express their feelings. “Man up.”
When working with a male therapist, male patients can learn that emotions are completely natural and should be expressed. The false perception of men “stuffing their feelings” is unhealthy for men and women in their surroundings.
As a male, male therapists can help men understand that it’s natural to feel and express emotions and it’s unhealthy to bury emotions.
In therapy sessions, men realize they are not alone which allows them to express their emotions, fears, and struggles without judgment. This leads to feelings of strength and empowerment.
Final Thoughts on Choosing to See a Male Therapist
You’ve discovered the signs and reasons to consider seeing a male therapist in order to help you resolve some of your most pressing issues.
A male therapist may provide a great choice for you to take the first step on the journey to emotional healing, mental wellness, and recovery.
Looking for tips on how to achieve a work/life balance? Read our blog.
Les Martel, Ph.D. offers psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, stress management, life transitions, career/work issues, marital and family conflicts, and life transitions.
Contact him today to arrange an appointment in a safe, non-judgmental environment.