Innovative Therapies for Men: What’s Working
“Fewer than half of men with a mental illness seek help, with only about 45.9% receiving treatment in the past year.”
-National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2025
Movember is a global movement that promotes awareness of men’s health issues by encouraging open conversations around mental health, suicide prevention, and substance abuse. Cultural expectations around masculinity, emotional restraint, and self-reliance often discourage men from seeking help or fully engaging in therapy. Innovative therapies are emerging that better align with how many men prefer to process emotions and pursue personal growth.
Understanding Gender-Specific Mental Health Needs
Mental health conditions affect both men and women, but the prevalence and expression of these conditions often differ:
- Men are more likely to experience substance use disorders, antisocial behaviors, and externalizing symptoms like anger or risk-taking.
- Women tend to experience higher rates of depression and anxiety and are more likely to internalize emotional distress.
Men may also struggle with societal pressure to “stay strong” and avoid vulnerability, which can lead to untreated mental health issues. Therapy that acknowledges these gender-specific dynamics can be more effective and empowering.
Therapies that Work Will for Men
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- CBT is a structured, goal-oriented approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
- For men, CBT offers:
- A sense of control through clear goals and measurable progress
- A practical, problem-solving focus that feels less emotionally intense
- Tools for managing addiction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety
- Trauma Therapy
- Trauma therapy helps individuals process and heal from past traumatic experiences. It can be particularly effective for men because:
- It frames treatment around a specific event, which may feel more acceptable than admitting to a mental health condition
- It often has a defined endpoint, making it feel more manageable
- It validates the emotional impact of trauma while offering strategies for recovery
- Trauma therapy helps individuals process and heal from past traumatic experiences. It can be particularly effective for men because:
- Motivational Interviewing
- This counseling style is designed to enhance a person’s motivation to change. It is especially useful in addiction and behavioral health treatment. For men, motivational interviewing may be appealing because:
- It emphasizes autonomy and collaboration
- It follows a clear structure: engage, focus, evoke, and plan
- It feels less like traditional therapy and more like self-improvement
- This counseling style is designed to enhance a person’s motivation to change. It is especially useful in addiction and behavioral health treatment. For men, motivational interviewing may be appealing because:
Encouraging Men to Seek Help
One of the biggest hurdles in men’s mental health is the initial step of seeking help. Many men still believe that asking for support is a sign of weakness. Substance use disorders are significantly more prevalent among men, often serving as a coping mechanism for untreated trauma, stress, or emotional suppression.
Therapists and educators can play a vital role in normalizing mental health care for men by:
- Offering gender-sensitive approaches
- Creating safe, nonjudgmental environments
- Promoting therapy as a tool for empowerment and resilience
Resources and Support
- Movember Foundation
- https://us.movember.com/
- Resources and campaigns for men’s health.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- https://www.nami.org/Home
- Information and support lines for mental health.
- Mental Health America (MHA)
- https://www.mhanational.org/
- Screenings, educational tools, and resources.
- SAMHSA Helpline
- https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- 24/7 free, confidential support for substance use and mental health.
- HeadsUpGuys
- https://headsupguys.org/
- Specifically designed for men’s mental health recovery tools and stories.
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