Men’s Mental Health

Why men often wait too long

Men are still more likely to manage difficult feelings alone — through work, through distraction, through keeping busy. Not because they do not have feelings, but because asking for help has not always felt like a realistic option. By the time many men come to counselling, they have often been dealing with something difficult for a long time.

You do not have to wait until things reach a breaking point. Coming early is not weakness. It is the opposite.

What I can help with

I work with men dealing with stress and pressure, anger, relationship difficulties, bereavement, anxiety, low mood, and questions of identity and purpose. I will not expect you to arrive knowing how to talk about feelings. That is part of the work, not a prerequisite for it.

Sessions are direct and practical if that is what suits you. There is no expectation of a particular format, and you do not need to open up before you are ready.

You do not need the right words

Stress does not always arrive as sadness or an obvious wish to talk. It can look like irritation, withdrawing from people, working longer, sleeping badly, drinking more or feeling that you are failing at things you used to manage. We can start with the practical facts of what is happening and work towards the feelings underneath them only when that is useful.

Ways we can work

Counselling for men is available face to face in Consett, online across the UK, by telephone or as walk and talk sessions locally. Sessions are 50 minutes and current charges are shown on the Fees page.