Men's Mental Health Counselling

You don't have to wait until things fall apart.

Perhaps you've always dealt with problems yourself.

You get on with things, work, look after other people, keep busy and try to sort things out in your own head.

When someone asks how you are, the answer is usually 'fine'.

But maybe you're not fine.

Something may have changed recently, or perhaps things have been building for a long time. You might not even be able to put your finger on exactly what's wrong — you just know that you don't feel like yourself.

You don't have to wait for things to reach breaking point before talking to someone.

Struggling doesn't always look the way you expect

You may not think of yourself as anxious or depressed.

Instead, you might notice changes in how you're feeling, behaving or relating to other people.

You might:

• Feel more irritable or angry than you used to

• Find it difficult to switch off

• Think about work constantly

• Feel exhausted or sleep badly

• Withdraw from your partner, family or friends

• Lose interest or motivation

• Drink or use other ways of coping more than you used to

• Struggle after a relationship breakdown or separation

• Lose confidence in yourself

• Feel lonely but find it difficult to talk about it

• Feel under pressure to keep everything together

• Feel stuck, numb or simply unlike yourself

You don't need to identify with everything on this list.

Sometimes knowing that something isn't right is enough.

Talking about things can feel unfamiliar

If you're used to handling problems yourself, speaking to a counsellor may feel like a strange thing to do.

You might wonder what you're supposed to talk about. You might worry that you'll be expected to discuss feelings you don't understand or can't put into words.

Or you may question whether what you're dealing with is serious enough for counselling.

You don't need the right terminology. You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis. And you don't need to be good at talking about emotions.

You can simply tell me what's been happening.

We'll start there.

What can men's counselling help with?

Men come to counselling for many of the same reasons as anyone else, but the way difficulties are experienced or expressed can vary from person to person.

I support men dealing with issues including:

• Anxiety and worry

• Depression and low mood

• Stress and burnout

• Anger and irritability

• Relationship difficulties

• Separation and relationship breakdown

• Loneliness and isolation

• Low self-esteem or confidence

• Grief, bereavement and loss

• Work pressure

• Family responsibilities

• Difficult life changes

• Feeling stuck or unsure about the future

You may be dealing with one of these things, several of them, or something completely different.

We can begin with what's happening for you.

Counselling doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all

Different people need different things from counselling.

You may want somewhere to talk openly without worrying about how somebody else will react. You may want to understand why you're feeling or behaving differently. Or you may be looking for practical ways of dealing with something that's affecting your life.

Often, it can be a mixture of these things.

We'll work together to understand what you need and what feels useful, at a pace that works for you.

You don't have to do everything on your own

Many men become used to being the person who copes — the person who works things out, deals with problems and keeps going.

Asking for support doesn't have to mean that you've failed to cope.

Sometimes having somewhere private to talk, away from work, family and everyday responsibilities, can give you the space to understand what's happening and think about what you want to do next.

Counselling isn't about somebody telling you how to live your life.

It's a place where we can look at what's happening together and work towards something that feels different.

Is Clarity Counselling only for men?

No.

I work with adults of all genders across a wide range of issues.

Men's mental health has its own page because it is a particular area of interest within my counselling practice and something I want men who may be considering counselling to feel comfortable talking about.

Clarity Counselling remains an inclusive counselling service for adults.

Thinking about counselling?

You don't need to have everything worked out before getting in touch.

If something has been bothering you, life isn't feeling right, or you've reached the point where you'd like to talk to someone, you can send me a brief message.

You don't need to explain everything in your first contact.

We can take it from there.

Edinburgh • Bathgate • Online
60-minute sessions • £45

Get in touch with Ewan