Men’s Counselling & Psychotherapy in Edinburgh, London and Online
In today’s society, many men are under immense pressure to meet societal expectations while navigating personal challenges. Men often face unique struggles, including societal pressure to be strong, emotionally stoic, and self-reliant, which can lead to internalized feelings of isolation, stress, and frustration. At The Life Academy, we offer Men’s Counselling & Psychotherapy with a focus on providing a compassionate, non-judgmental space where men can explore their emotions and find healthy ways to address life’s challenges. Our holistic approach integrates a variety of therapeutic methods to help men reconnect with their emotions, build stronger relationships, and develop personal growth and emotional resilience.
Understanding Men’s Unique Emotional Challenges
Having worked with many men through the years, I have come to the realization, also confirmed by research, that men and women experience and deal with psychological suffering differently. This difference is partly biological, but largely influenced by social and cultural conditioning. Society often teaches men to value hyper-rationality and logic, seeing these as masculine strengths, while emotions and their expression are viewed as weaknesses associated with femininity. This results in many men growing up with the belief that they must appear ‘strong’ and invulnerable, avoiding conversations about their feelings to avoid being perceived as weak.
This conditioning leads many men to suppress their emotions, causing them to feel isolated and disconnected from the full spectrum of their emotional experience. It silences their inner world, restricts their emotional lives, and prevents them from appreciating the richness and importance of emotions for mental and physical well-being. Furthermore, when men finally seek therapy, they often feel hesitant due to the stigma associated with asking for help.
There’s also an unfortunate tendency within psychotherapy to rely on approaches that require direct emotional disclosure, which men may find uncomfortable due to cultural expectations. Traditional counselling models tend to favor emotional expression in ways more aligned with how women typically process their emotions, making it difficult for men to fully engage in therapy.
A Male-Specific Approach: Emotional Intelligence Program
In response to these challenges, I have developed a male-specific counselling and coaching program designed to help men enhance their emotional intelligence. This Emotional Intelligence Program helps men:
Become more aware of their emotions and the emotions of others.
Respond to others' emotions more effectively in both personal and professional settings.
Express their emotions in ways that enrich their relationships.
Differentiate between emotions and thoughts, allowing for clearer thinking and emotional clarity.
Expand their emotional vocabulary to encompass a wide range of human emotions.
Integrate emotional intelligence with cognitive intelligence, helping men make important decisions with a balance of rationality and feeling.
Find a balance between action empathy (the desire to fix things) and emotional empathy (being present, listening, and responding with care).
In this work, we aim to bring men to a balance between cognitive and emotional intelligence. Our goal is not to diminish the importance of rationality but to integrate it harmoniously with emotional awareness. When thinking and feeling are balanced, men can experience greater wisdom, resilience, and the ability to overcome life’s challenges.
Addressing Relationship Issues in Men’s Counselling
A central focus of Men’s Counselling & Psychotherapy is helping men improve their relationships with partners, children, friends, and colleagues. Many men experience difficulties in expressing vulnerability, which can lead to communication breakdowns, frustration, or conflict in relationships. Through therapy, we help men:
Develop stronger communication skills, allowing for better emotional expression and connection.
Resolve underlying emotional wounds that may be affecting their ability to connect with loved ones.
Create healthier patterns of intimacy and emotional closeness in romantic relationships, breaking down barriers to connection.
In relationships, many men face challenges related to anger, emotional distancing, or an inability to communicate their deeper feelings. Our approach helps men recognize and manage these patterns, improving their ability to build healthy, supportive relationships that are grounded in mutual understanding and emotional transparency.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Healing Internal Conflict
Many men experience internal conflicts, where different parts of themselves are at odds. One part may strive to fulfill societal expectations of strength, while another part may feel vulnerable or in pain. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is an effective approach for helping men resolve these inner tensions.
Through IFS, men can:
Identify different parts of their emotional landscape that are contributing to feelings of stress, anger, or disconnection.
Develop a compassionate dialogue between these parts, reducing internal conflict and promoting emotional balance.
Reconnect with their core Self, the part of themselves that is calm, grounded, and capable of guiding them toward healing and resilience.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Overcoming Self-Criticism
Many men struggle with a harsh inner critic, often driven by societal pressure to succeed, provide, and remain emotionally stoic. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) helps men develop self-compassion, allowing them to treat themselves with kindness and understanding rather than judgment.
CFT can help men:
Reduce feelings of shame or guilt by fostering a kinder relationship with themselves.
Address the inner critic that may fuel feelings of inadequacy or failure.
Build emotional resilience by learning to self-soothe and manage stress with compassion rather than harsh self-judgment.
Somatic Therapy: Releasing Trauma from the Body
Emotions are not only experienced mentally but also physically. Many men carry unresolved trauma or stress in their bodies, which can manifest as chronic tension or pain. Somatic Therapy addresses the connection between the mind and body, helping men release the emotional pain that is often stored physically.
Through somatic techniques, men can:
Release tension in the body, leading to physical and emotional relief.
Gain greater body awareness, helping them recognize how their emotions manifest physically.
Reclaim control over their physical and emotional well-being by integrating somatic practices into their daily lives.
Spiritual Counselling: Rediscovering Meaning and Purpose
For many men, depression, anxiety, or feelings of disconnection are linked to a loss of meaning or purpose. Spiritual counselling offers men the opportunity to explore existential questions about their life’s direction, values, and sense of connection to something greater.
Through spiritual counselling, men can:
Explore their life’s purpose and rediscover what truly matters to them.
Reflect on personal and spiritual beliefs that may provide comfort, clarity, and meaning.
Reconnect with their values, creating a more grounded and purpose-driven life.
Overcoming Life’s Challenges Together
I have experience helping men overcome a wide range of challenges, including relationship difficulties, anger, low self-esteem, workplace issues, and life transitions. My male-specific counselling and coaching approach addresses the unique ways men experience and express their emotional challenges.
If you are struggling with any issue—whether it’s relationships, addiction, fatherhood, or life changes—we can work together to help you overcome these difficulties and grow as a person. Men’s Counselling & Psychotherapy is available in Edinburgh and online. Please contact me to arrange an initial meeting.
I look forward to helping you heal and flourish.