What are men’s groups? Are men’s groups helpful? What are the benefits of men’s support groups? where can I find a men’s group? what is discussed in men’s groups? If you are looking for answers to these and more questions related to men’s groups, you have come to the right place.
Hi. My name is Sean Galla. I have facilitated men’s groups/forums for over 10 years. One of the most common questions asked is are men’s groups helpful?
For many generations, men have been made to believe that seeking support is a show of weakness. Being part of a men’s Group ensures men, regardless of age, orientation, or occupation, can get the support and guidance they need as they navigate through life.
Whether you are looking for career advancement advice, mental health support, emotional support, social support, or just a men-only space for good banter, becoming part of a men’s group can be all the help a man needs. Here is everything you need to know about men’s group and why you should consider joining one.
Table of Contents:
What are men’s groups?
Men’s groups can be described as a small group of men comprising between 5 to 15 men setup specifically to give group members a safe place to share, vent, learn, practice active listening, and adapt to life challenges and personal growth as they create self-awareness.
Also commonly referred to as group therapy for men, it is an excellent option for men who find it hard to go for individual therapy sessions with therapists or mental health professionals.
These group sessions offer a safe space where men can learn from fellow men as they share and seek the support of an understanding community of other men. Psychologists and mental health professionals see men’s group as some of the most approachable forms of talking therapy for men. In a group setup, men feel less pressured to talk about themselves, which makes them more open to sharing and learning.
What are he men’s groups rules and guidelines? Learn more here.
Are Men’s groups Helpful? – How they work
Men’s groups meetups are often led by a trained facilitator, a licensed counselor, or a therapist to ensure all members have access to professional help, support, or advice as needed.
Most men seeing a therapist are encouraged to participate in men’s groups as an essential part of their recovery process. If you prefer to avoid a psychotherapy group altogether, joining a men’s group specific to your needs can be the next best choice.
Is men’s group worth it? Men’s groups are available for different needs.
You can find men’s groups that address specific issues such as:
- Mental health
- Emotional intelligence
- Relationship issues
- Anger management
- Chronic conditions
- Addiction
- Self-improvement
and general life issues. These issue-specific men’s circles are specifically setup to bring together men going through similar issues. This makes the group experience safe for sharing and learning without it negatively affecting a man’s self-esteem.
Depending on the issues you are facing or the kind of help you seek, men’s groups such as the mankind project can be some of the best place to go when trying to address and overcome the issues and lead a better life.
Men’s groups are also a type of psychotherapy for men’s issues. This type of therapy is available to people from different parts of the United States like New York and Washington dc, and even the rest of the world. Most men’s groups either meet online, in mental health clinics, therapeutic practices, hospitals, and community centers.
Are men’s groups helpful?
Even though gender roles and stereotypes make it seem as though men do better on their own, psychology shows that a lot of men yearn for a connection that allows them to share their life issues, engage in mindless banter, and even enjoy social settings amongst a groups of guys.
At a deeper level, men have an unmet need to share and learn from each other’s experiences on what it means to be a man. Unfortunately, men have very few opportunities to do this, which hinders their ability to experience self-actualization.
With men’s groups, young men and old finally have a safe space to make these social connections, learn from fellow men, and share about their lives with other men who understand.
Men’s groups are also an excellent space for men to come and learn how to be in tune with their emotions and see life from new perspectives.
Most men were raised to understand that it is in a man’s nature to suppress their emotions, as expressing them is seen as a sign of weakness. In a support group, men learn that it is ok to share their feelings since the groups offer a safe space to show emotions and get support. This can go a long way in boosting men’s mental health and making them more emotionally available to their loved ones.
Through group therapy, men can become more open to talking about their life and seeking support and mental health care when they feel stuck.
Are Men’s Groups Helpful? – The Benefits
They help you find your voice.
Through group therapy, you become more in touch with your feelings as you learn the importance of expressing how you feel. In therapy groups for men, members are strongly encouraged to pay attention to their feelings and feel free to talk about them.
You give and receive support
During men’s groups meetings, members are encouraged to rely on one another for feedback, connection, and support, instead of getting it all from a therapist or no one at all. The group will engage and discuss issues affecting different members’ well-being for the benefit of everyone in the group.
The offer Support and encouragement
Men’s groups are a valuable source of resources needed for personal development for men. These resources can help men in building relationship skills, leadership skills, emotional awareness, self-esteem, general life skills and finding healing.
Men’s groups work to counteract the isolation some men experience. By participating in the group meetups, you get to hear what the other members are going through and their progress, which gives you a sense of belonging and hope to be better.
You learn to practice healthy relations
Without proper socialization techniques, it can become hard for men to sustain relationships. In group settings, members get honest feedback about their ability to relate and get advice on improving their skills. By being part of a group, men are able to see how people relate to one another. This goes a long way in encouraging them to build healthy relationships with others outside the group.
They are a safety net
One of the most significant issues faced by men is finding a safe space where they can speak freely about their feelings, emotions, mental state, and hopes. Attending a men’s groups session will teach you how to be authentic by encouraging you to speak up for yourself. These skills are practiced in the group to boost members’ confidence, making it easier for members to use the learned skills in their day-to-day life.
How to find men’s groups
A simple search for men’s groups may not give you a wide range of results since there are very few therapy groups specifically catering to men. However, options are available.
Online tools like the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and Psychology Today can help you locate group therapy near you from organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and others that offer cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducational groups, and other types of self-help therapy groups for men.
Online men’s groups
Statistics show that 94% of men prefer online group therapy compared to in-person meetups.
Online men’s groups are perhaps the closest most people can get to group therapy for men. According to findings, at least 98% of men attending virtual meeting group meetups show significant improvement in their mental health and stress management.
Also, more than 70% of men dealing with depression show a significant improvement in their symptoms.
Online groups for men, though unconventional, has gained popularity in the recent past, more so during the covid-19 pandemic. Online zoom meetings make it possible for people to get the help they need from any part of the world. This makes therapy convenient and accessible. Online men’s groups make it easier for most men to connect with others like them despite the distance.
Being in a group with people from different parts of the world gives you a global understanding and perspective of issues shared in the group.
If you are looking for an online men’s group that specifically caters to the needs of men, MensGroup is an online support group for men that offer group therapy sessions virtually.
About MensGroup
https://stagingwpx.mensgroup.com/
Lack of a peer support system is a major cause of mental health issues amongst men. MensGroup is an online group meetup platform that strives to offer group session support, wellness guidance, and help to men through different life issues.
MensGroup is a supportive network of men ready and willing to help others like them through sharing life experiences. The mensgroup.com group therapy session will give you the information you need to overcome your issues and lead a better life. It equips you with resources that make you a better man and ensure you lead a better, more fulfilling life.
Conclusion
Joining and attending meetings in a group setup is scary at first for most men, but it should not be. To ease you into the process, you can find men’s groups online as these make the transition to group therapy easier since they encourage anonymity.
Taking part in the group work in men’s group sessions is the best way to understand the group process and connect with the members. If you are a man interested in joining a group just for men, mensgroup.com is perfect for meeting like-minded men who will listen and offer advice with no judgment.
