What happens when a therapist realizes that a client can spend three years in the same chair talking about the same problems without actually changing? In this episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, the host reflects on his own experience as a psychotherapist and asks a difficult question: Is traditional one-on-one psychotherapy actually working for men?
After seeing a client struggle with the same fears, patterns, and stories for years, he came to believe he wasn’t using the right tool. His answer wasn’t simply a different version of individual therapy. Instead, he began questioning the traditional psychotherapy model itself and what men actually need to grow.
The episode explores why many men may respond differently to therapy, why guidance and mentorship can matter alongside emotional exploration, and why respect and authenticity are essential to the therapeutic relationship. It also makes the case for men’s groups as a powerful next stage after individual therapy, providing something individual sessions can’t fully replicate: real relationships, conflict, accountability, belonging, and brotherhood.
This episode is for men who have tried therapy but feel stuck, men who struggle with introspection or emotional expression, and anyone wondering whether traditional individual therapy is the right fit.
It’s also for men who want more than simply understanding their past. If you’re looking for accountability, mentorship, community, stronger relationships, or a place to practice new skills in real time, the discussion around men’s groups offers another perspective.
The episode challenges the assumption that simply creating a safe, validating space will automatically create change. The speaker argues that many men, particularly men who were never taught introspection or emotional intelligence, may need more structure, guidance, and direction than traditional therapy sometimes provides.
Rather than expecting a client to discover every answer independently, the speaker believes therapists can bring their education, experience, and perspective into the room. For men looking for an expert or mentor, a therapist who only mirrors their experience may not feel like enough.
According to the episode, men need more than a therapeutic relationship built around validation. They may need mentorship, guidance, camaraderie, and, most importantly, respect.
The speaker explains that authenticity matters. When a therapist shares appropriate vulnerability, demonstrates expertise, and is willing to be honest about what they think, the relationship can become more meaningful for male clients. The goal is not to be a detached expert with a clipboard, but a trusted guide who understands the challenges being discussed.
The episode argues that modern men’s challenges are increasingly emotional, mental, and spiritual rather than purely physical. Men still need physical health and discipline, but the demands of modern life require different tools and strategies than previous generations may have needed. Therapy and coaching can play an important role in helping men navigate challenges around relationships, career, identity, discipline, purpose, and emotional well-being.
Individual psychotherapy can eventually reach diminishing returns for many men. After years of working through childhood, family conditioning, and the original presenting problem, therapy can become increasingly introspective. That doesn’t mean individual therapy has no value. In fact, the episode emphasizes that individual work can be particularly important at the beginning, especially when a man needs focused attention or space to work through difficult emotional experiences. But it may not need to remain the only form of support indefinitely.
The episode presents men’s groups not as a cheaper alternative to individual therapy, but as a potential next level of growth. A group creates an environment that more closely resembles real life. Instead of interacting only with a therapist, men interact with other men who have their own personalities, beliefs, experiences, and reactions. That creates opportunities for conflict, disagreement, judgment, vulnerability, and connection, experiences that can be difficult to recreate in one-on-one therapy.
You can find Marc at his website Men’s Therapy Online, where he offers therapy, coaching, and a free Slack community for men.
Ready to go deeper? Men’s Therapy Online offers Individual therapy built specifically for men. Also consider joining the Men’s Group and the free Slack Community where over 250 men have real conversations about growth, identity, and men’s mental health.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Disclaimer: MTO connects men with licensed practitioners who provide guidance and support for navigating the challenges of modern life. These coaching services are not a substitute for mental health treatment, emergency services, or crisis support.
Unpack what a modern midlife crisis actually looks like. Learn why the old stereotypes get it wrong. Discover how it can become an initiation instead of a collapse.
Listen Now
Confused about CBT, psychodynamic, somatic, or group therapy? Learn how different types of therapy work, how to find the right approach, and when men may need deeper work or accountability.
Listen NowGet expert insights, podcast drops, blog highlights, and upcoming events straight to your inbox,
built for men who want to grow, lead, and live with purpose.
Address: PO Box 142, Evergreen, CO 80439
Phone: (301) 442-9119
MTO connects men with licensed practitioners who provide guidance and support for navigating the challenges of modern life. These coaching services are not a substitute for mental health treatment, emergency services, or crisis support.
