Therapy for Men in Los Angeles - Navigating Life’s Challenges
My Approach to Therapy with Men
While I work with all types of individuals, through my own professional experience and education, I have a developed a strong passion and credible history in providing online therapy for men virtually throughout California.
For effective work, I believe it takes a unique perspective and understanding of the specific issues men face. In my experience, the social expectations of masculinity can make it difficult for men to find a safe space to talk about many of the issues they face. As a therapist specializing in men's issues throughout Los Angeles including Culver City, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, I create a non-judgemental space for men to talk openly and honestly about their struggles, emotional challenges, and mental health concerns, which isn't always available in their existing male social relationships. In my collaborative approach, I come from a place of curiosity and maintain a sense of approachability to ensure my clients feel seen and supported in whatever thoughts or feelings may arise. The process of therapy isn't just beneficial for the individual seeking help; it leads to deeper relationships and can have a positive impact on your connection and closeness with others.
I also work with the unique challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces around sexuality, masculinity, and the male psyche.
Areas of Focus: Relationships, Career Stress, and Emotional Wellbeing
Feeling stuck or directionless? Simply the act of exploring options regarding your mental health means that you are invested in your happiness, health, and relational wellbeing. There doesn't need to be a major life event or crisis to reach out, sometimes it's just about desiring a more balanced life for yourself and developing a deep understanding of relationships with others. Individual therapy can also serve as a support to your couples therapy or family therapy, providing a safe environment to reflect on the impact that family life or relationship challenges have on your current experiences.
Navigating Relationships and Intimacy
Navigating the complexities of relationship issues and intimacy can be a challenging journey for many men, often requiring the unraveling of deep-seated beliefs and patterns. Individual therapy offers a confidential space to explore these aspects of your life and support you in establishing healthy conflict resolution and communication tools to improve both your personal life and romantic partnership. If you are currently in couples therapy, your individual therapy sessions serve as a space for self reflection and exploration, engaging in emotional experiences, as well as practice in articulating your needs, desires, and boundaries more effectively which lead to deeper connection, healthy relationships and greater meaning in your everyday life.
Job Stress & Career Shifts
There are a wide range of issues men face when overcoming career issues such as managing stress, increased anxiety and worry, finding a job that brings them satisfaction, navigating financial hardship and uncertainty, career transitions, and social pressures placed on men in the workplace. Through individual therapy, men are able to gain a deeper understanding into the ways in which work stressors and career transitions impact their intimate relationships, personal issues, social life, and overall quality of life.
Pressures Associated With Masculinity
According to a recent Pew Research Study, “more than eight-in-ten say men face pressure to be emotionally strong, with 41% saying men face a lot of pressure in this area.” By engaging in therapy, men can gain a wide range of insights into the ways in which societal expectations of masculinity impact their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. It provides a space to develop healthier coping strategies, improve your relational difficulties, enhance emotional expression, life a more authentic life, and cultivate a clearer understanding of their own masculinity.
Life Transitions & Support For New Dads
As you face the demands of balancing personal growth, career challenges, daily life, and the nuances of fatherhood, therapy creates a space to explore and understand these new dynamics. It's about building resilience, enhancing communication skills, and fostering a deeper connection with yourself and helping you to embrace the changes with confidence.
Male Friendships & Emotional Well-Being
A recent American Perspectives survey , indicated that “less than one-third of men (30 percent) say they have had a private conversation with a friend during which they shared their personal feelings in the past week”. Establishing social connections and friendships are a great source of emotional support and help to establish community and a sense of purpose. Therapy provides a space to understand the current state of your friendships and navigate the current sources of your stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges with greater ease and resilience. Through personalized sessions, men learn to communicate more effectively, build stronger friendships & relationships, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Therapy For Men: Knowledge & Resources
Right now, the importance of men's mental health is being talked about more openly than it has in the past. Because of this, more than ever before, men are recognizing their need for help and reaching out. However, mental health is still not something that comes up freely for men in their daily conversations with friends, partners, or family.
In my clinical experience as a marriage and family therapist, starting a conversation about men's mental health issues & the mental health services available is a great first step in providing yourself or the man you care about with the support they need (or didn't know they needed). To further support my male clients and as a reminder that as men, you aren't alone, I've provided some interesting reads, favorite podcasts, and helpful links to support men in understanding their own mental health.
Zach Gottlieb on Gen Z + Mental Health
Rich Roll Podcast- Unwinding Anxiety with psychiatrist & neuroscientist, Jud Brewer
National Alliance On Mental Health- Blog, Men's Mental Health