Discover Your Path: Men's Therapy in Petaluma
Counseling for men looking to heal in themselves and grow in their relationships
Being a man in today’s world seems like it’s full of landmines. From a young age we aren’t taught what it means to be a healthy emotionally. We are continuously told that we need to perform better, that our worth depends on what we accomplish. The results are predictable. As men are alienated from their true selves, their relationships suffer. Their capacity for enjoyment diminishes. They feel isolated. And, yet, for most of us there simply is not a well defined alternative example to follow. Therapy can help men to forge their own path to authenticity and integrity.
What therapy isn’t:
Off the jump, let me be clear about what therapy isn’t. Therapy is not a place for men to practice being more perfect. It is not a space where we reinforce shame-based conceptions about who we are “supposed” to be. It is not a practice of figuring out how we can “fix ourselves” to become some fantasy ideal of who we - or anyone else - thinks we should be.
Rather, therapy has to start with accepting where we are at. When we stop comparing ourselves and start getting curious about our experience, new avenues for fulfillment open up to us. This is the foundation of emotional well-being.
About Me
Hi, I’m Dr. Scott Menasco. I’ve been doing transformative work since I had a revelation in college that my life felt empty. This led me down a path of discovery (incl. volunteering as a wildlife Ranger in South Africa photo included). I began studying psychologies of the “East” and “West,” and in my early 20s I enrolled in school to become a psychotherapist.
I have a passion for helping men discover themselves and enrich their lives. I know how challenging it can be to navigate the world with integrity. I also have seen how therapy can support us in practicing this path.
Therapy Can Help Men
Improve their relationships
Learn to express the connection between emotions, desires, and needs
Manage difficult emotions such as anger, fear, jealousy
Heal from perfectionism; developing healthy self-esteem
Bring healing to younger parts, or the ‘inner child’
Explore meaning, purpose; existential/spiritual growth
Getting Started Is Easy
Reach out to schedule a free consultation. Meet with Dr. Menasco to explore what you hope to get from therapy and ask any questions you have about working with him.
FAQ
How do I know I am ready for therapy?
You are likely ready for therapy if you are noticing that something about how you are operating in your relationships, or inside yourself feels unsustainable. Perhaps there is anxiety, or depressive type symptoms. Perhaps you are irritated all the time. You are ready for therapy if you are willing to put in effort on a weekly basis, show up to meetings, apply ideas and practices outside of meetings.
Can ChatGPT be my therapist?
ChatGPT can give you concepts, but it can not give you therapy. Therapy isn’t just about the therapist giving the client ‘tools.’ It is a much deeper, relational process that unfolds over time. Time and time again I see clients flooded with ‘tools’ struggle to implement them. Therapy is not merely about tools. It is an exercise of relational self-discovery between two embodied humans.
How Long Does Therapy Take?
Whether you are actively in therapy or not self-discovery is a lifelong endeavor. I am not saying you need to be in therapy forever. Rather, that the process of healing that you embark on doesn’t just stop one day. If we come to therapy and expect ourselves to be completely changed in three months, or a year, or whatever, we are likely to be disappointed. Is it possible? Sure. Probable? No. Most of the times the patterns we are working on have developed over decades. It’s best to have a healthy respect for this.
All that said, in most cases I expect to see concrete progress after a few months. Often it happens sooner. Sometimes it takes longer. I evaluate this with my clients as we go.