June is Men’s Mental Health Month, a vital time to bring awareness to the emotional well-being of men and boys everywhere. While conversations around mental health issues, treatment options, and coping skills are growing, one major barrier still stands in the way of men seeking help: toxic masculinity. Understanding the difference between toxic and healthy masculinity is essential in addressing mental health problems among men, and creating space for real healing to occur.
At Innerspace Counseling, we see firsthand how the pressure to conform to outdated male stereotypes can deeply affect the mental health of every adolescent and adult we treat. Through our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), we help clients break free from those rigid norms using proven approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This blog will explore what toxic masculinity is, how it contrasts with healthy masculinity, and how these ideas influence mental health, especially for men struggling with anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
What Is Toxic Masculinity?
Toxic masculinity isn’t about saying masculinity is bad—it’s about calling out harmful behaviors and beliefs tied to traditional male gender roles. These toxic traits include:
Suppressing emotions
Viewing vulnerability as weakness
Believing men must be dominant or aggressive
Avoiding anything perceived as "feminine"
Refusing help or support, especially emotional or mental health care
These attitudes are often passed down through generations and reinforced by media, culture, and even friends or family. While they may appear to promote strength, they often lead to mental health disorders, strained relationships, and untreated emotional pain.
How Does Toxic Masculinity Harm Mental Health?
Men raised with toxic beliefs about masculinity are less likely to seek therapy, talk about their thoughts and feelings, or even recognize when they’re struggling. This silence can fuel serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Toxic masculinity teaches men that it’s better to "man up" than to open up. At Innerspace Counseling, many of our male clients arrive at our IOP or PHP after years of silently battling internal distress. By the time they seek help, their symptoms are often severe—but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Healthy Masculinity: What It Looks Like
In contrast, healthy masculinity embraces emotional expression, respects others, and promotes self-awareness. It means:
Understanding that emotions are human, not gendered
Valuing empathy, kindness, and emotional intelligence
Seeking help when needed
Supporting equality and rejecting violence
Respecting boundaries and fostering healthy relationships
Healthy masculinity allows men to be whole people—not just providers or protectors. It gives space for children, adolescents, and adults to grow into emotionally intelligent, connected individuals.
Reframing Masculinity Through Mental Health Care
At Innerspace Counseling, we work to help our male clients redefine what it means to be a man through structured treatment plans that include DBT, CBT, and other evidence-based therapies.
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) are designed to provide daily support without full hospitalization, making them ideal for men juggling work, school, or family obligations. These programs emphasize:
Emotional regulation: Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to understand and manage intense emotions
Cognitive restructuring: Through CBT, identifying and changing harmful beliefs like "I can't show weakness"
Communication skills: Practicing healthy ways to express needs and thoughts and feelings
Peer support: Connecting with others who are working to unlearn toxic norms and build new, healthier habits
Whether someone is dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or identity struggles, the right treatment plan can foster healing and growth.
Addressing Men’s Mental Health During June—and Beyond
Men’s Mental Health Month is about more than just awareness—it’s a call to action. Statistics show that men are far less likely to seek therapy or mental health services, yet they are more likely to die by suicide. This sobering reality tells us one thing clearly: traditional views of masculinity are failing men.
At Innerspace Counseling, we believe that dismantling toxic masculinity isn’t just a cultural issue—it’s a clinical one. We work closely with each client to build a safe, respectful space where vulnerability is viewed as strength, not weakness.
Our PHP and IOP programs meet clients where they are, whether they’re just beginning to recognize their struggles or they’ve been dealing with mental health disorders for years. For some, just attending therapy is a radical act of courage—especially if they’ve grown up believing they had to “tough it out” alone.
How Families Can Help
Friends or family play a crucial role in reshaping masculinity and supporting mental health. Here’s how you can help the men in your life:
Normalize feelings: Encourage emotional expression in boys and men from a young age.
Challenge stereotypes: Don’t reinforce ideas that equate masculinity with stoicism or aggression.
Model openness: Show that seeking help, whether through a psychiatrist or a support group, is a healthy and normal part of life.
Be a safe space: Let the men in your life know they can talk to you about anything without fear of judgment.
Encourage professional help: If someone is struggling, recommend programs like Innerspace Counseling’s IOP or PHP, where they’ll receive tailored support.
The Role of DBT and CBT in Reclaiming Healthy Masculinity
DBT and CBT are powerful tools in helping men rewire the internal narratives they’ve been taught. For example:
A man who believes “crying is weak” may learn through CBT to challenge that belief by examining where it came from and how it impacts his relationships and well-being.
A client in DBT might learn distress tolerance skills, allowing them to feel their emotions without being overwhelmed or shutting down.
These therapies not only reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, but they also empower men to develop coping skills that align with healthy masculinity.
Changing the Narrative Starts Now
The conversation about masculinity is evolving, and that’s a good thing. Healthy masculinity doesn’t erase what’s good about being a man—it builds on it. Courage, responsibility, leadership, and strength are still valued, but they are redefined through a more compassionate and emotionally intelligent lens.
At Innerspace Counseling, we are committed to helping men navigate that journey. Whether through our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), we offer structured, supportive environments where men can be fully seen and supported. With the help of CBT, DBT, and a comprehensive treatment plan, men can not only manage their mental health problems but also thrive in ways they never thought possible.
This Men’s Mental Health Month, let’s push back against outdated ideas and create space for real healing. If you or someone you love is struggling, Innerspace Counseling is here to help.
Need help navigating mental health as a man?
Contact Innerspace Counseling today to learn more about our IOP and PHP programs tailored for adolescents and adults.
Your strength is in your story—and it’s okay to get help writing a new one.