Therapy For Men
Why Don't I Feel Like Myself Anymore?
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Have you lost interest in your friendships and hobbies?
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Are you angry and irritated most of the time?
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Are you unsatisfied at work? Have you felt that your life is meaningless?
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Do you fight a lot with your partner? Are they complaining that you've changed and don't seem like yourself?
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Are you struggling to sleep and find yourself worrying more than usual?
Admitting that you have a problem is not a weakness.
Talking to a therapist can help you feel better.
The Strong, Silent Man
Men feel pressured to fit the stereotype of the strong, silent type. We receive the message in childhood that men should not be vulnerable.We are not supposed to open up about our struggles. We have to be tough and push down our negative emotions. If we're struggling, we're supposed to figure it out on our own. Asking for help and support would be a sign of weakness. Under these societal expectations, it's no surprise that so many men suffer in silence.
Males are less likely than females to speak to a professional about their problems. This is true for two reasons. First, men are socialized into silence. Michael Addis writes that men are silent because they don't know how to talk about their inner life. Addis also believes that men remain silent because they are afraid of no longer being a "real" man. The second reason men don't seek therapy is they perceive it as a threat to their masculinity. Men assume that talking to a professional is a sign of weakness. Even though men don't want to open up to a therapist, talking with a professional can be beneficial. Speaking with a therapist can help a man treat issues like depression, anger and anxiety.
Talking with a therapist does not make you less of a man.Seeking professional help is a sign of real courage.
Common Issues Treated in Therapy
For Men
Therapy for Anxiety
Over 9% of men in the United States struggle with anixety. Less than half take medication or receive professional help to treat the anxiety. Most men experience worry and concern. Who hasn't experiencecd sweaty palms or a racing heart before a presentation? These are natural and normal responses to stress. Anxiety is something more intense than worry or concern. Anxiety is a serious issue that requires professional attention to treat.
What does anxiety look like for men?:
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Anger and irritability
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Headaches
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Trouble sleeping
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Muscle aches and pains
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Intense Fear
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Strained relationships
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Unhealthy preoccupation with the future
Anxiety can also lead to avoidance behaviors. When anxiety leads to avoidance, you start to miss out on many things that are important to you. Anxiety is also something that gets worse when you ignore it.
Therapy can help treat anxiety by teaching you mindfulness and relaxation techniques. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety. CBT is an evidence-based approach backed up by tons of research. CBT helps men identify and change negative thought patterns. CBT also helps men create behavioral changes that can diminish anxiety.
Depression Treatment
Depression can impact men and women in different ways. In light of this, male depression often goes unnoticed and untreated. It is common to link depression with sadness, fatigue, trouble sleeping and a loss of passion. These are ways that depression impacts both women and men. Unique manifestations of male depression include:
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Escapist behavior. Men with depression spend more time at work or with the "guys" to avoid dealing with their emotions.
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Physical Symptoms. Men report headaches, muscle aches and digestive issues.
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Problems with addiction. Male depression can result in addiction to drugs, alcohol and sex.
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Anger Issues. Men with depression can be more aggressive and violent than usual.
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Reckless Behavior. Battling depression can lead to risky behavior like driving too fast or risky bets.
Since male depression is not only about feeling sad, it often goes undiagnosed. Men can be infamous for not talking about their struggles. Avoiding the symptoms of depression will not make them go away. Suppressing the symptoms of depression will only make the negative emotions worse.
Men have a difficult time expressing vulnerability. You may feel disconnected from others and thus unable to talk about what's going on in your life. Men also have hang ups about therapy. They feel like it's a sign of weakness to ask for professional help. This resistance to depression treatment only makes matters worse.
Therapy can help with male depression. Having someone to talk to about what's happening in your life can feel like a giant burden lifted. A CBT therapist can help you identify the sources of your depression. They can also teach you healthy copings skills to help manage negative emotions. There is hope for you to overcome your depression if you schedule your first session.
Anger Management Therapy
Anger is a normal human emotion. Everyone can experience anger from time to time. Anger becomes a problem for a man when it occurs for a long period of time or a high level of intensity. When a man struggles with rage this can have a negative impact on his health and relationships.
Anger management therapy cannot change your environment or circumstances. Anger management therapy equips you with tools to better understand your anger triggers. Anger management therapy teaches you ways to manage your emotional and physiological arousal. Anger management therapy can help men develop self-control and healthy emotional expression.
CBT is an effective choice for anger management. CBT can help you identify triggers and develop and practice coping skills. CBT helps men think, feel and behave in ways that are calmer and more in control.
Relationship Struggles for Men
Men have many important relationships in their life. Men struggle to navigate their relationships with their partner and their kids. They also have a hard time relating to co-workers and making new friendships. It can be difficult for a man to communicate his needs in a relationship. Instead of sharing what is bothering him, men tend to bottle their emotions. This is an unhealthy strategy that leads to deeper conflict and pain.
Therapy can help you develop the skills and tools you need to be a better communicator. If you can improve your communication, you can enhance your connection with others.
Addiction Therapy
Substance abuse is not the only kind of addiction. Men can be addicted to food, sex, gambling, pornography or their job. Addiction is the excessive pursuit of pleasure without consideration of the consequences. Addicted men turn to an external object to regulate their inner emotions. There is usually underlying emotional pain behind the addictive behavior.
Addiction therapy helps men identify the underlying issues behind the addiction. CBT is an effective model to treat addiction. CBT helps change the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that reinforce the addiction cycle. Addiction therapy can help you achieve greater satisfication and fulfillment in life.
Life Transition Therapy
As men advance in age, they go through various life transitions. Many of these transitions can be traumatic and difficult to navigate alone. Some of these life transitions include:
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Death of a parent
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Divorce
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Loss of a Job
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Disease
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Spiritual/Religious Crisis
Men tend to ignore or rush through difficult transitions. Life transition therapy helps men slow down and identify what is happening. Rather than deny the transition, therapy encourages men to accept it and work through it. Talking to a therapist can help you release all the negative emotions. It can also help you make sense of your past and enable you to develop a meaningful future.
Whether you're depressed or going through a major life
transition, talking to a therapist can you get back on track.
What to Expect When You Start Therapy for Men
Some men resist therapy because they have a skewed idea of what will happen in a session. As a therapist for men, I am not interested in blaming your parents for your problems. In my first session I don't lead with a question about how you "feel". If you're like me, that's the problem. You don't know how you feel! I like to ask men what they have going on in their life that no one else knows about. This tells me a lot more about you than how you are "feeling".
Therapy for men does not have to be a place where you cry every session. Crying is ok and sometimes necessary to process our pain. Instead of a cry fest, therapy is a space where you can learn to open up free of judgement. My therapy approach emphasizes rationality and the healthy control of emotions. We will collaborate on setting goals and learning new skills.
Men tend to struggle with primal competition with other men. I don't play that game. I don't pretend to be an authority in your life. You don't need to impress me or prove your worth. I accept my clients exactly as they are. I am much more interested in collaboration than competition. We can work together to help you experience the life you always thought was possible.
Therapy for men is not the stereotype of therapy you see on
TV. It's a space to be honest and to figure out next steps.
Therapy For Men Can Help You Find
Solutions
I specialize in doing therapy with men. I have experience working with the unique issues men face today. As a fellow man, I understand the struggles that men face at work and in relationships. We can collaborate together to help reduce your anxiety and improve your depression. We can find solutions for your addiction. We can help you rediscover meaning and purpose after a major transition.
I understand that men don't want to talk and are hesitant to start therapy. I've been there! I go out of my way to make therapy an inviting and enjoyable experience. We can build a relationship and work on a plan that meets your specific needs.
Start Your Therapy Journey with
Quique Autrey: Katy, Tx & Houston
You don't have to go through any of this alone. I'm here to support you and guide you into the next chapter of your life. If you don't know what to do next, please contact me and set up your first appointment. Taking the first step is hard but worth it. I can work with you to help bring healing and hope. I'm just off of I-10 and 99. I am centrally located for those living in Katy and Houston. To start your therapy journey, follow these simple steps:
1. Contact Katy Teen & Family Counseling.
2. Schedule your first appointment with Quique Autrey.
3. Begin your therapy journey and start healing. Your are not defined by your struggles. I want you to realize your true worth and potential. I want you to embrace a bright future. Imagine what life will look like for you free of your struggles.
The mission at Katy Teen & Family Counseling is to restore hope, happiness, and connected family relationships. I look forward to starting this process of hope and healing with you!
Katy Teen and Family Counseling
Units 401 & 402
Katy, TX 77494
