Men’s Mental Health

This page explores how Men are struggling with questions of meaning, purpose and connection and how therapy offers a space to explore these challenges.

An Existential Problem

Many men today are facing a quiet yet deeply existential mental health crisis. Dramatically rising rates of depression, loneliness, and suicide point toward the problem. Many men don’t know where to turn for guidance, often feel unsure about what to do or how to express what they are feeling within themselves, or seeing in the culture at large. 

In my work as a therapist, I’ve come to see how the issues men face today are deeply rooted in existential questions of meaning, purpose, identity, and belonging. Existential-Humanistic therapy offers a path to explore these themes and discover who we are in the present and who we wish to become in the future. 

Change, Loss, and Freedom

We are living through a time of accelerated change. The institutions, jobs, and social systems that once helped us make sense of life have either dramatically shifted or disappeared. For many men, traditional roles like the provider, protector, or leader no longer hold the same meaning or importance they once did. 

This changing landscape can be painful, creating a feeling like something important has been lost. While grieving this loss is critical, recognizing change brings new possibilities and is the first step in charting a new path forward. 

Freedom bring the possibility to author one’s own meaning and, in the process, define success. Yet this freedom brings uncertainty and anxiety. Therapy can offer support in navigating this tension and, in time, turn the confusion freedom brings into clarity, meaning, and direction. 

Isolation and Connection

In a culture where genuine connection is becoming harder to find, distractions often take its place. This might be through substance use, social media or other forms of digital stimulation. Given enough time, these patterns can lead to emptiness and exhaustion. It can feel as though one is stuck in a loop, where the only options available make the problem worse. 

At the center of this dynamic is a paradox: men desire connection but fear dependence—often feeling that being able to support oneself both emotionally and materially signals strength and success. This can result in a pervasive sense of loneliness, anxiety, and a loss of meaning. 

In therapy, we work together to discover and rebuild authentic relationships—at first with oneself and then with others. In time, therapy can become a space to practice presence, openness, and emotional safety, where you can begin to experience being met without judgment or expectation. 

Men’s Counseling in Eugene & Springfield, Oregon

If you’re a man navigating questions of identity, purpose, or connection, therapy can offer a grounded space to explore your experience and rediscover what matters most. I offer in-person sessions in Eugene and secure online counseling throughout Oregon.