“Man up.” “Work harder.” “Stop crying.” All common messages men grew up hearing – and internalizing – over time. In this article, we dive into the reasons why “tough love” can make it harder to process loss, harming boys and men alike. Whether you’re here to process your own grief, or here to support a friend, brother, father, or partner, we explain how “tough love” may be blocking men from processing loss from their lives.

Lots of people believe that student therapists ‘just don’t have enough experience’. This is often far from the truth. Student therapists have to take relevant courses within their masters-level university program and also are often required to take additional trainings and workshops to be able to join their practicum sites. If you're looking for an affordable way to seek support, therapy with a student therapist might be right for you!

Most of us are quick to show understanding to others, yet we speak to ourselves in ways that we’d never use with someone we care about. Self-compassion isn’t about ignoring mistakes or pretending things are fine. It’s about responding to difficulty with honesty and care instead of judgment. That simple shift can make a huge difference in how we cope, heal, and grow.

In Canada, we often downplay the mental health needs of men. This article takes you through what you can do to support your own mental health as a man or support the needs of someone else. June is Men's Mental Health Month, and we need to raise awareness about how to better support half of our population in being more well, cared for, and open about their struggles and their needs.