Therapy for Men
Our society makes it very difficult for men to reach out for help. I realize that picking up the phone or emailing a counselor is one of the last things you want to do. It probably ranks down there with having a root canal. I want to make the process easier for you.
I am very unique compared to most counselors in that I spent most of my career in male-dominated fields, not in counseling. I graduated with a BS in General Engineering from West Point in the 5th class that included women, and spent 5 years in the military as a commissioned officer before leaving the military to work at Hallmark Cards. During my 14 years at Hallmark, I earned an MBA focused on leadership from Rockhurst University, and I was promoted into senior management at Hallmark. I worked in Human Resources, the Ambassador card line business unit, the Graphic Arts Division, a research and development division and finally, in Information Technology. I led engineering, research and IT groups, all comprised mostly of men. I ended my career at Hallmark as a Business Development Director doing consulting work for internal Hallmark corporate areas and for Hallmark’s subsidiaries. I absolutely loved Hallmark and the people with which I worked. I left the company to be home with my four children, but missed the work environment, so I opened a small business which I ran while going to graduate school to become a counselor.
So why would I share all of that detail?
Because I want you to know that my business background makes me very relatable and gives me a rich understanding of the pressures and stress many men endure. I don’t know what caused you to find my website. Perhaps you hate your job or your boss . Perhaps the stress of supporting your family in a middle to upper class lifestyle is exhausting. Maybe you and your wife don’t have sex very often and have become roommates. Maybe you wish you still had the freedom to do the things you enjoyed when you were younger. Perhaps you are wondering what will give you meaning in life. There are many reasons men come to therapy. You are not alone. More men go to counseling than you realize. They just don’t talk about it.
My military and business backgrounds give me an edge over most counselors in understanding your world. Many people work for years and raise a family without ever really considering what they need in their lives in order to be happy. They burn out or have a “midlife crisis” and are filled with uneasiness, regret or a sense of loss for the dreams they once had. My counseling background helps me to understand relationships, stress, parenting and trying to balance of the competing challenges in life in order to succeed at work and home and to create a life that feels worthwhile to you.
Sometimes, work is so demanding that you need someone to vent to that will listen with care and without any judgement. I’m that person for many people.
Counseling is both of us sitting in my office talking about the things that are on your mind. It’s as simple as that.
If you are ready to get started with counseling, please fill out the form on the Contact page or call me at 913-735-0384.
*special thanks to helloquence at Unsplash.com for the header photo