I have a husband and a son and as a therapist, I work with men of all ages and the more men I work with, the more I think about what we actually teach boys and men about being strong.
Because somewhere along the way, strength has become confused with silence. Being strong can mean getting on with it - Not complaining, not showing too much emotion. Being the one everyone else can rely on, keeping your problems to yourself and perhaps most importantly, not asking for help.
Read more: Men's Mental Health: Making Space for a Different Kind of Strength
8 years ago, I remember desperately searching the internet for somebody to tell me when the unbearable pain would stop. I kept finding the same phrases:
"Everyone is different."
"Grief is a personal journey."
Of course they were true. But they weren't what I wanted to hear. I wanted someone to tell me: "It gets better."
Read more: Learning to Live with Grief: Growing Around the Loss
ADHD is something that has become incredibly important to me, both personally and professionally. It wasn't a specialism I chose simply because I wanted to add another area to my work. It became something I came to understand through the people I love most — and through watching what happens when somebody spends years believing that the things they struggle with are somehow a reflection of who they are.
Read more: Why ADHD Matters to Me: From Shame to Self-Acceptance
Counselling for Adults and Young People
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