Therapy for Men: What Do I Even Talk About?

One of the most common questions I hear from new clients is this:

“What do I talk about in therapy?”

For many men, especially those who didn’t grow up with emotional language or a safe space to express their inner world, the idea of therapy can feel unclear—or even uncomfortable.

If you’re wondering what you’re supposed to bring up in therapy, here’s the truth:

You can talk about anything.

Seriously. There’s no template, no one-size-fits-all script. Therapy for men is about creating space to unpack what’s happening inside your head and heart—even if you don’t have the vocabulary for it yet.

Let’s take a step back.

Many boys are raised with the idea that strength equals silence. “Man up.” “Don’t cry.” “Handle it.” These messages teach young men that emotions are something to suppress, not express. Unfortunately, what gets stuffed down doesn’t disappear—it just leaks out in other ways: through stress, anger, disconnection, or burnout.

That’s where therapy comes in.

Here are a few things you can talk about in therapy:

• Your relationship with your father or mother

• The pressure you feel to provide or succeed

• Why your relationship isn’t working (even if you can’t explain why)

• What you feel when you walk in the door after work (numb, irritable, exhausted?)

• The way you were taught to define “manhood”

• Your fears about fatherhood, aging, or failure

• Your sex life or lack of one

• The job you thought would make you happy, but doesn’t

The point? You don’t need to have a crisis to start therapy. You just need to be open.

Therapy for men isn’t about becoming someone else—it’s about becoming more honest with yourself. You’ll be surprised how much clarity and peace comes just from naming what’s been swirling in your mind for years.

All you need is an open mind and a willing heart.

I work with men virtually in CA, OR, and TX, and in person in Fayetteville, GA. If you’ve been curious about taking that first step, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.