Men’s Health & the Man Box
When you have an issue with your car, bike, ute, trailer, pushbike, computer or even the lawnmower, what do you do? Firstly, you may try to fix it yourself. If it’s still not quite right, you may ask a friend, or you may take it to a mechanic, technician or other.
Why is that when our mind is a little off kilter, that we stop at ‘fix it myself’? Does this sound familiar?
Whatever the issue is, you can guarantee that someone has experienced something similar or even worse and it’s not uncommon to feel that they must do it on their own. You are not alone.
Counselling – no judgement, no shame, no pressure. Solutions and awareness.
The high suicide rate among men in Australia is a serious concern and I am passionate about assisting men before they feel this is the only option.
So many men are dealing with the sorts of struggles that can be shared in counselling that they may find too difficult to share with another – providing them with the necessary understanding and tools to apply to real-life before things go too far (the engine completely blows a gasket).
Some examples of the sorts of struggles you may be experiencing:
- Losing someone/something
- Relationship breakdown/loss
- Loss of employment
- Being a new dad
- Being alone
- Retirement
- Aging
- Societal/peer pressures
- Juggling responsibilities and more.
The Man Box
“What does it mean to be a man in Australia? Research shows that the pressure on men to follow outdated stereotypes of masculinity is contributing to their anxiety, depression, risky drinking and violence against women. Encouragingly, most people support the idea that everyone will benefit if men can break free from harmful gender stereotypes.” (VicHealth.vic.gov.au)
Women’s Health, Transitional Life and Midlife Challenges
Transitions are periods in our lives where lots of change is happening to/around us at any one time and may influence us in a way that we find challenging. Maybe difficult questions arise, choices or decisions need to be made or simply navigating a way forward needs to be unravelled.
The transitions we go through can be fabulous and life-changing in positive and life-affirming ways. But some people struggle with understanding them when they are happening. Some transitions were unplanned and can shock, catch you unawares, underprepared, under-resourced.
The 30’s where for some, the questions begin. Life decisions and choices around family, relationships, friendships, work, sexuality and really starting to get on that journey to ‘know’ ourselves.
The midlife-experiences 40’s – 60’s where for some, families are growing, families are changing, starting or ending. Or maybe it never happened at all. There may be mid-life queries that arise from a milestone birthday, a birth, a relationship ending, a friendship dissolving, career-change, job-loss, loneliness, resentment or… many other possibilities may occur throughout this time. Still journeying, gaining wisdom along the way.
60’s onwards. Everyone ages differently. Questions asked at this stage of life differ from those of when we were younger – this view includes retrospection and collected knowledge.
Where have I been? What have I done? Where is my ‘group’? Who do I belong to? What’s my legacy? Post-retirement questions. Post-relationship questions. Looking back. Looking forward. Ageing processes. Mortality.
A note on gender terms
I respect and acknowledge that there is a spectrum on which ones’ identity may lie. I recognise that you may find yourself at a stage or a life transition as mentioned above, but not the gender, or you may be struggling with understanding someone in your life going through identity changes (genderqueer), you are welcome here.
If you don’t feel comfortable, do not identify or are not sure about the use of man/woman to define/represent you or someone you know, you will be welcomed and safe in counselling with me.
