Revive Counseling LLC

Let’s Give Men More Credit: A Therapist’s Letter to the Men of the World

You do care.

Not in the loud, billboard-blasting, talk-to-a-stranger-at-the-coffee-shop about your life story kind of way. But in the quiet, steady way that shows up for your family.

You care about being present. You care about being a better partner, a better dad, a better man. You want to communicate more clearly, support your loved ones more deeply, and lead with integrity—even when no one sees the effort it takes.

And I see it. I work with men every week who are doing this work—not for applause, but for the people they love and the life they want to build.

Men Are Doing the Work—Even If the World Doesn’t Acknowledge It

There’s a cultural narrative that men don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t care. But I don’t buy it. I’ve seen too many men show up in therapy rooms asking the hard questions:

  • “Why do I shut down when things get tense?”
  • “Why do I feel like I’m just going through the motions?”
  • “How do I stop bringing stress home to the people I care about most?”

These are not signs of weakness. They’re signs of reflection, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to grow.

The Double Standard Men Live With

Let’s be honest: The world hasn’t made it easy for you. You’re told to be tough. Be the protector. Be logical, quick, driven, ambitious. But don’t be too intense. Be emotional—but only in the “right” way, with the “right” people, at the “right” time.

That’s a narrow path to walk—and it leaves many men feeling like they’re constantly failing.

The pressures of patriarchy have boxed men in, too. While they often can benefit from certain societal structures, they’re also harmed by them. You’re told you’re only valuable when you’re producing, fixing, or leading. Vulnerability becomes a liability. And when emotions do rise up, you’re expected to swallow them whole and keep moving. But that’s not sustainable. And more men are recognizing that.

This Month Is for You

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. But instead of focusing on all the things men are “doing wrong,” I want to shine a light on what you’re doing right.

You’re taking responsibility. You’re showing up. You’re thinking about how your inner world affects the people around you. That matters.

This isn’t about pathologizing men or trying to “fix” you. This is about recognizing that mental and emotional health are foundational to being the man you want to be—not just for you, but for your loved ones.

Therapy Isn’t Just Talking in Circles

Let’s clear something up: therapy isn’t about sitting in a chair and endlessly rehashing your childhood.

It can be powerful. Practical. Goal-oriented. Even creative. In my work, I use somatic techniques, EMDR, and expressive modalities that help men access what’s underneath the surface—without needing to intellectualize every feeling.

We don’t just talk. We work. We identify what’s not working in your day-to-day life—stress, tension, disconnection—and we get to the root of it. We build tools. We rebuild identity. We strengthen your ability to trust yourself and lead from within.

You Don’t Have to Be Falling Apart to Want Something Different

You don’t need to hit a breaking point to ask for more. You can just be tired. Or stuck. Or craving something you can’t quite name. Maybe you’ve been keeping it all together on the outside, but inside, something feels off.

That ache you feel? That’s a longing to come home to yourself. To reconnect with the parts of you that got buried under stress, responsibilities, or years of emotional survival.

You’re Not Alone in This Work

You’re not the only one feeling this way. There are so many men—business owners, new dads, retirees, athletes, creatives—quietly doing this work. And while they might not post about it, they’re healing. They’re rewriting old narratives. They’re learning how to lead from a place of wholeness instead of pressure.

You’re in good company.

This Is Your Invitation

If something in this message hits home—if you feel that tug in your chest, that pull toward clarity, connection, or change—this is your moment. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to take the next step.

Whether that’s journaling, having a real conversation with someone you trust, or finally booking that therapy appointment—it counts.

You deserve support that matches your depth, your drive, and your desire to show up fully in your life.

To the Men Doing the Work: I See You

This post is for the men in the shadows. The ones breaking cycles quietly. The ones healing from things they never thought they’d speak about. The ones who love deeply but struggle silently.

You are seen. You are valued. You are not alone.

Let’s give men more credit—because you’re doing far more than the world gives you credit for.