There is an unmet need currently in the acceptance and adoption of masculinity-affirming frameworks in therapy, which is ultimately letting men and boys down.
I have spent my career as a Clinical Psychologist advocating for the unmet needs of men and boys. Where indicated, my therapeutic approach often involves an invitation to clients to challenge their own thinking that relies uncritically on societal norms and lazy stereotypes.
A concerning gender gap still exists in mental health, with men less likely to seek assistance, more likely to cease treatment and drop out prematurely. An hard but important truth is that the gender gap in mental health engagement may, in part, be influenced by biases within our profession, including perceptions of masculinity. Rather than blaming men for their own plight, it is about time we in psychology looked closer at the factors shaping barriers and facilitators of help-seeking.
In my own research into mental health help-seeking, we found that the barriers men perceive can shape their attitudes toward help-seeking and masculinity itself strongly informed the perceived barriers. What greater barrier is there than the perception there is no place for them within our therapy rooms. Qualitative exploration highlight negative terminology, such as "toxic masculinity," can be seen as harmful and stigmatising which inadvertently deepen these perceived barriers to engagement. To engage men well, avoiding terms like "toxic masculinity" is crucial in overcoming resistance or reluctance toward help-seeking.
Affirming models of care and affirming practitioners matter and as a profession – we need to step up to the plate.
Successful therapeutic engagement is more likely when masculinity is affirmed and perceived barriers are dismantled, where men feel comfortable seeking support without fear of judgement. Referring to appropriate services and therapists that embrace masculinity-affirming models will contribute to a mental health ecosystem responsive to the needs and challenges faced by men and boys.
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