11/06/2026
What Have We Learned From a Decade of Engaging Men in Therapy?
One of the most persistent challenges in mental health is encouraging men to seek support.
Across many countries, research consistently shows that men are less likely than women to access counselling, psychotherapy, and other mental health services. Men are more likely to delay seeking help, more likely to try to manage difficulties on their own, and often present for support only when challenges have become significant. Despite increasing awareness around mental health, the gap between men's need for support and their willingness to access it remains a concern.
At Willingness, we have observed something slightly different.
Over the past decade, 49% of clients accessing therapy and counselling services through our organisation have been male.
This is not something we view as an achievement. Rather, it has provided us with an opportunity to better understand what helps men engage with therapy and what barriers may prevent them from doing so.
One of the most important lessons we have learned is that men often enter therapy through practical concerns rather than emotional language.
Many of the men who seek support do not initially describe themselves as struggling with their mental health. Instead, they present with challenges in their relationship, concerns about their s*xual wellbeing, work-related stress, burnout, parenting difficulties, anger, motivation, confidence, or major life transitions. What begins as a conversation about a specific problem often develops into a deeper exploration of emotions, beliefs, past experiences, and personal growth.
We have also learned that representation matters.
When men see other men openly discussing mental health, seeking support, and speaking honestly about their struggles, it helps reduce the stigma surrounding therapy. This does not mean that male clients only work with male therapists. In fact, many men benefit greatly from working with female professionals. However, normalising conversations about mental health within male spaces can make it easier for men to take the first step.
Another important observation is that many men respond well when therapy is framed as growth rather than crisis management.
Historically, therapy has often been viewed as something people seek when they are overwhelmed or unable to cope. Increasingly, however, many men are approaching therapy in the same way they might approach coaching, professional development, physical training, or education. They are not necessarily seeking help because something is wrong. They are seeking support because they want to improve their relationships, become better partners or fathers, make better decisions, manage stress more effectively, or develop a deeper understanding of themselves.
Perhaps the most encouraging lesson is that men are willing to engage in meaningful psychological work when they feel understood rather than judged.
Like anyone else, men want to feel heard. They want to know that their experiences will be taken seriously and that they can speak openly without being criticised or dismissed. When therapy provides a space that is practical, respectful, evidence-based, and relevant to their lived experiences, many men are willing to engage fully in the process.
There is still a great deal of work to be done. Men continue to experience disproportionately high rates of su***de in many countries, and many continue to suffer in silence. However, our experience over the past decade gives us reason for optimism.
The question is no longer whether men are willing to seek support.
The more important question may be whether mental health services are prepared to meet men where they are and invite them into conversations that can genuinely improve their lives.
