Patient: My girlfriend wanted me to go to therapy, but I don’t know, I just have a hard time talking about my emotions and how I feel.

Therapist: The decision to go to therapy can be a big one, and it’s an important decision because therapy can be very beneficial, especially being able to talk to someone who you know will not judge you. It gives you a safe space to be able to express yourselves. As men in society, we’re told that we don’t have emotions or it may appear that the only emotion that we are allowed to express is anger. That’s often associated with hypermasculinity. We tell little boys to “man up” and that message conveys that happy emotions and expressing emotions means you are less “manly”. I happen to think it’s the opposite in that it shows true strength of character. To be able to admit that you have emotions and admit that you may be struggling with them.