It's ‘therapy bro summer': Why more men are getting mental health help — it's not just to get laid
But now it's the boys' turn: 2025 is officially 'therapy bro summer.'
More men than ever are getting help for their mental health — and The Post spoke to several therapists to find out what's bringing them in.
4 The Post is declaring 2025 'therapy bro summer.'
Malik/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
Therapy in 2025 — the hottest health craze?
Therapy's undergone a bit of a rebranding in the past couple of decades, with celebrities and social media users being increasingly more open about their experiences with anxiety, depression and addiction — destigmatizing once super-taboo subjects and inspiring more and more people to seek out help.
'As the stigma associated with mental health treatment continues to lift, men are definitely more proactive about seeking help in a way that previous generations of men might not have been,' John Montagna, MHC-LP at Greenwich House's Center for Resiliency and Wellness, told The Post.
But while women have always tended to be a bit more comfortable talking about their feelings, men have trailed a bit further behind.
That's why it's been so notable that world-class athletes like Olympian Michael Phelps, NBA Star DeMar DeRozan and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins have spoken out about their struggles — and shows like 'Shrinking' on AppleTV+ spotlight mega-stars like Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in the field.
'The combination of social media, therapy becoming mainstream in TV and movies, evolving and exciting changes to gender roles, and the fierce courage of popular celebrities and athletes have created a perfect storm of onward momentum,' added Dr. Rachel Ginsberg, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
'I often reference a scene from 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' where one of the main characters resists therapy, and after a poignant expression of his feelings, he yells, 'You unzipped me!''
But it's not just that men are depressed — many are simply seeking a better understanding of themselves in an effort to be happier.
4 Therapy is becoming less taboo thanks to celebrities and social media.
Viacheslav Yakobchuk – stock.adobe.com
What women want
Then, of course, there are the women in their lives — or ones they're hoping to attract.
'Women want to be with men who are self-aware, emotionally intelligent and good listeners, with the capacity to notice, feel, validate and step outside of themselves to really see and care for the other,' said Ginsberg.
'The more that men can become vulnerable and in touch with their emotions, the better their lives will be.' Dr. Kathryn Smerling
'They want to be with men who have both humility and confidence and are not afraid to reflect, grow, call themselves out and communicate.'
She notes that dating apps now have prompts that reference therapy, including, 'My therapist would say I…'
'This is a testament to how therapy rhetoric is becoming a way of letting your guard down and building connection with others,' she explained.
Psychotherapist Dr. Kathryn Smerling said a man in therapy is seen as a 'green flag' to many young women, showing that they want to undestand themselves more
'They are interested and curious about ways they can better themselves, which means they can then bring that emotional intelligence and care to a romantic relationship,' she went on.
'We also hear a lot more now about the importance of men embracing their emotions and not bottling things up — that it is necessary for men to be vulnerable if they want to have a healthy relationship.'
4 A lot of men are working on themselves to be better partners — and many women say they won't date men who aren't open to therapy.
Prostock-studio – stock.adobe.com
In fact, a survey released in May by the dating app Hilly found that 55% of Gen Z women refuse to date a man if he's not at least willing to go to therapy, and 45% find people who do therapy more attractive.
That number bumps to 55% for millennial women.
'Self-actualization — emotional literacy, authentic confidence, humility and the ability to make healthy choices — will naturally make someone an attractive mate and a better partner in any relationship, romantic or otherwise,' Montagna added.
Happy mood, happy dude
But while it's a good way to boost your romantic prospects, that's a pretty big commitment — of time and money — just to get a date.
According to all three of our experts, men are increasingly getting their heads shrunk for a bunch of reasons, from better family life to emotional regulation.
'People are now looking internally and intentionally trying to have a better work/life balance,' said Smerling, author of Learning to Play Again: Rediscovering Our Early Selves to Become Better Adults.
'Men are also becoming more involved with their children. Very often they seek therapy because they want a better relationship with their kids.'
4 Men are also looking to have better relationships with their families.
Andrii Zastrozhnov – stock.adobe.com
It's not just young guys, either. Smerling has a lot of patients in their 40s and 50s, and Montagna and Ginsberg both say that have patients of all ages — but how old they are might influence how they come to therapy.
'Younger men have been socialized differently,' said Ginsberg. 'While younger men are more active and willing to pursue therapy, older men will seek therapy too, particularly around life transitions, such as health events, change in roles or jobs, around loss or retirement, or at the elbowing of family/friends.'
Ready for 'therapy bro summer'?
Still not so psyched to see a psychologist? The pros say you've got nothing to lose — and everything to gain.
'The more that men can become vulnerable and in touch with their emotions, the better their lives will be, and the healthier all of their relationships will be — not just romantically,' said Smerling.
To really get the most out of it, Ginsberg urges doing it for the 'right reasons' — and setting concrete goals to 'feel more tethered to a return on your investment.'
And make sure your 'therapy bro summer' turns into an 'introspective autumn' and 'emotional vulnerable winter.'
'There is no shame in seeking help to cope with your emotions, just as there would be no shame in visiting an eye doctor if your vision was blurry!' said Montagna, the lead mental health counselor for the Resilient Men group therapy program at CRW.
'We are no doubt living in a time when masculinity is being redefined, and men are seeking guidance to navigate a rapidly changing social, political and economic landscape. But we can succeed and thrive if we aren't afraid to seek support.'
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