“I don’t need therapy. I just need to toughen up.”
While 80% of men say counselling has improved their lives, guys wait an average of 11 years to seek help. So, why do we intentionally hold back our mental well-being? Here’s why guys put off going to therapy (and why it’s all BS.)
“There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Most guys are raised to ignore, push aside, or “just get over” negative emotions. But there’s a difference between acting tough and being strong.
Our survey found that even though nearly half of guys haven’t tried therapy, 90% have actively thought about going.
It’s easy to ignore your mental health. But you don’t know what you don’t know. A professional counsellor is like a coach or trainer. They’re not there to judge but to help you uncover what’s holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself.
“Ok… maybe something’s off. But I can handle it myself.”
You probably pride yourself on being resourceful. You know how to solve problems and fix what’s broken. So why would you ‘bother’ someone else with your mental health?
In our survey, nearly 60% of guys who put off therapy said they wanted to do it themselves.
Mental health is personal. It only makes sense that you’d want to try to tackle it yourself. But there’s only so much you can do on your own. Journaling or writing down your thoughts can help at first. But without a trained guide, you’ll end up stuck in a cycle of the same negative behaviours and thoughts.
“Well, it costs too much.”
There’s no denying that therapy can be expensive. And 45% of the guys we spoke to said that money was the biggest factor preventing them from going to counselling.
Therapy isn’t a sunk cost. It’s an investment in your future. After going through our program, 96% of men say they feel better equipped to manage life’s situations better and 100% said they’d refer a friend.
“I don’t know where to start.”
Admitting you need help is a huge step. But what do you do next?
Two-thirds of guys put off therapy because they don’t know where to look for help or couldn’t find something that looked suitable.
We’ll admit it, therapy can be confusing.
Do I need a psychologist or a psychiatrist? Who’s going to really listen to me and who’s going to just prescribe a bunch of pills? Guys need a different service when it comes to therapy–one that’s designed specifically for them (hey, that’s why we started Manifest!)
Guys need therapy that’s made for them
When it comes to therapy, men suddenly become masters of mental gymnastics. We come up with a laundry list of excuses to explain why therapy isn’t for us.
At Manifest Wellness, we’ve created a new approach to therapy specifically for men. It’s practical, effective, and works quickly. In fact, 89% of guys say they see positive effects in how they feel and function in just a few sessions.
The excuses will always be there. But if you want to finally start feeling better, you need to push them aside and try something new.
