“To me, the definition of true masculinity - and femininity, too - is being able to lay in your own skin comfortably.”
Masculinity and Mental Health
In general, men are less likely to seek therapy for emotional problems than women, and even less likely to get help for eating and body image issues. Unfortunately, countless men struggle alone and in silence for longer periods of time—sometimes never getting help—and their emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing suffers tremendously.
As new cultural trends and demands increase—along with modern society's rigid expectations and harsh critiques of men and masculinity—so do men's levels of stress and anxiety. More men than ever before are finding themselves in need of a confidential, safe place to deal with the physical, psychological, and spiritual consequences of failing or killing themselves to meet new social demands on manhood. That is why I specialize in offering psychotherapy and embodied self-awareness practices for men of all sexual orientations, and who struggle with one or several of the following:
- Eating, Weight, & Body Image
- BodyDissatisfaction / Muscle Dysmoprhia (Bigorexia)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Intimacy/Communication/Relationship Problems
- Spirituality
- Anger & Anger Management Concerns
- Fear/Panic Attacks
- Body-Identity Exploration
- Shame/Inadequacy/Powerlessness
- Sex & Sexuality Issues
- Feelings of Sexual Inadequacy
- Sexual Performance Anxiety
- Loss of Sexual Desire / Sexual Boredom
- Feeling Sexually Inexperienced
- Somatic Exploration of Sexuality
- Addiction
- Food
- Exercise
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Sex
Men and Eating Disorders
Contrary to what has regrettably been viewed solely as a "women's disease," research over the last 20 years has revealed that eating disorders, disordered eating, and weight and body image issues impact a great deal of men as well. In fact, new changes and uncertainties around what it means to be masculine in current society have left today's man particularly susceptible to these life-threatening conditions. According to The National Eating Disorders Association, 10 million men in the US suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder in their life. Because men aren't encouraged to seek treatment for eating and body image issues, the exact number of men in America who struggle with their eating and/or physical appearance is unknown and likely far greater than 10 million.
The bottom line is that you are not alone.
I would like to help you explore how and why these problems are showing up in your life, and what you can do regain your power over them. By exploring the very things that men aren't "supposed" to say, think, and feel, you can finally confront and unpack cultural messages and beliefs that make it incredibly difficult to deal with these invisible problems.