Should I See a Male Therapist? Benefits and How to Choose
Finding the right therapist is a pretty personal experience. Beyond their background, specialties, and location, you might wonder whether you'd be more comfortable with a man or a woman. While the vast majority of therapists are women, sometimes choosing a male therapist feels more comfortable.1 For some people, though, gender may not matter as much as personality and fit.
Regardless of whether you're looking for a male mental health therapist or just want someone who fits your needs, there's no "right" or "wrong" choice. Therapy works best when you feel respected, understood, and comfortable enough to talk honestly about what's happening in your life.
At SG Therapy Group, we believe finding the right fit is an important part of creating a meaningful therapy experience. That's why we want to explore some of the benefits of a male therapist and how to know if choosing a male counselor is right for you.
Female vs Male Therapist: How to Choose
Gender can be one factor in choosing a therapist, but it doesn't have to be the deciding one. Choosing between a male or female therapist can come from past experiences, concerns you want to address, or simply who you connect with more easily.
Outside of gender, if you're not sure how to choose a therapist, here are some things to consider:
- Do they have experience with the concerns you want to address? Maybe that's a female or male therapist for depression, trauma, ADHD, addiction, or something else.
- What's their therapeutic style and personality? Does it match what you're looking for?
- Do you feel heard rather than judged?
- How comfortable are you asking questions or disagreeing with them?
- What is their ability to understand your goals and experiences? The best way to know whether a male psychotherapist is the right fit for you is to meet them and see how the conversation feels.
Signs a Male Mental Health Therapist Is Right for You
Besides matching therapeutic style and experience, deciding whether a male psychotherapist is right for you might involve considering whether you:
- Tend to feel more comfortable opening up to men.
- Are male-identifying and feel another male may better understand certain issues.
- Value a male perspective on relationships, family, identity, parenting, or other life experiences.
- Want to explore your relationships with important men in your life.
- Have had difficult experiences with men and believe working with a safe, supportive male counselor could be meaningful.
- Simply feel that a particular male therapist's personality, specialties, or therapeutic style fits what you need. You don't need to have a specific reason for preferring a male counselor. Feeling comfortable with your therapist matters, as research has consistently shown that a strong therapeutic relationship is fundamental to the success of the care.2 So, personal preference is absolutely a valid part of choosing someone you believe you can trust.
Benefits of Working With a Male Counselor
The benefits of working with a male counselor will look different for every client. For some people, working with a man can shape the therapeutic relationship in a helpful way.
For instance, some benefits of working with a male psychotherapist include:
Being Able to Explore Relationships and Patterns Around Men
Our relationships often shape the way we understand ourselves and interact with others. You may come to therapy wanting to process a complicated relationship with your father, brother, mentor, friend, or another important man in your life. You might also want to explore how expectations around masculinity or past experiences with men have influenced the way you communicate, trust others, or handle vulnerability.
For some clients, having these conversations with a supportive male therapist offers a different relational experience and provides another perspective to consider.
A Male Perspective May Feel Helpful
Many people may not have a specific gender preference.3 But some women and non-binary clients may specifically value a man's perspective or feel more at ease with men in general. While some men may simply feel more understood or less self-conscious discussing certain experiences with another man.
A good therapist will never assume that their experience is identical to yours. However, you may appreciate having the opportunity to explore your experiences with someone whose gender or life perspective feels useful to the conversation.
Men May Feel More Comfortable Discussing Certain Concerns
If you're a man, you might feel more comfortable working with another man. Some men feel more comfortable talking with a male psychotherapist about masculinity, emotional vulnerability, body image, sexuality, performance pressure, or the expectations you place on yourself.
Clients of any gender may find that a male counselor is simply the person with whom they feel most comfortable doing the work.
Find Male Therapists Near Me in Person
If you're located in Ohio and searching for a "male therapist near me," SG Therapy Group offers in-person and online therapy with Max, our wonderful male therapist in Cleveland. Our office, located at 29525 Chagrin Blvd, Suite 130, Beachwood, OH 44122, is convenient if you're coming from nearby communities such as Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike, and other parts of Greater Cleveland.
Our office is near familiar Beachwood landmarks, including the Maltz Museum and Preston's H.O.P.E. Playground, and is also within the broader Chagrin Boulevard corridor.
If you're driving, the office is easily accessible from I-271, with parking available directly in front of the building. From downtown Cleveland, the drive is typically about 30 minutes via I-480 East, depending on traffic. Public transportation is also an option. SG Therapy Group is served by the Greater Cleveland RTA 14-14A bus route toward Lander Circle.
Whether you're looking for a male counselor in Cleveland close to home, work, or school, our Beachwood location offers an accessible setting for personalized, in-person therapy.
Contact a Male Counselor in Cleveland, Ohio
Finding a therapist you genuinely connect with can make it easier to engage in the work of therapy. If you've been searching for a male therapist in Ohio, check out SG Therapy Group's own Max Schoen.
As a male trauma therapist who also specializes in depression, sports & performance, body dysmorphia & exercise addiction, and self-esteem, Max brings a compassionate, trauma-informed, and strengths-based perspective to his work. He focuses on building a supportive relationship in which clients can feel understood while also gaining the insight and tools needed to move forward.
You don't need to know exactly what you want to say before starting therapy. You only need a place to begin.
Reach out to SG Therapy Group to learn more about working with a male therapist and request a consultation.
References
1. Willyard, C. (2011). Men: a growing minority? American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/01/cover-men
2. Opland, C., & Torrico, T. J. (2024, October 6). Psychotherapy and therapeutic relationship. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK608012/
3. Seidler, Z. E., Wilson, M. J., Kealy, D., Oliffe, J. L., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., & Rice, S. M. (2021). Men's preferences for therapist gender: Predictors and impact on satisfaction with therapy. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 35(1), 173-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2021.1940866
