It’s Men’s Health Week. And if you coach people through big transitions, there’s one audience you can’t afford to overlook: men.
Because despite what the outdated cultural script says, men do seek coaching. Men do need support. And men do carry emotional wounds that affect every relationship, goal, and belief they hold.
But they’re not always welcomed into this world with open arms. Often, they’re met with mistrust, misunderstanding, or a subtle message that they’re doing healing “wrong.”
Let’s fix that.
The Stereotypes Men Are Up Against:
- Don’t cry. Don’t ask. Don’t soften.
- Be strong. Be stoic. Be silent.
These rules are rarely said aloud. But they show up everywhere—from family dynamics to corporate ladders to the coaching industry itself.
Even well-meaning coaches can reinforce these beliefs unintentionally by:
- Prioritizing emotional expression before building emotional safety.
- Assuming men need “fixing” rather than support.
- Over-feminizing the healing process so it feels inaccessible.
What Men in Transition Are Carrying:
Men often show up to coaching with deep emotional repression—not because they’re resistant, but because no one ever modeled another way.
They may be dealing with:
- Divorce or heartbreak they weren’t allowed to grieve.
- Pressure to provide that led to identity loss.
- Shame about not knowing how to communicate feelings.
Your role isn’t to crack them open. It’s to build enough trust that they open themselves.
How to Build Trust with Male Clients:
- Go slow. Earn every layer.
- Validate resistance. It’s often self-protection, not arrogance.
- Use language that empowers, not lectures.
- Offer practical wins early on. Let them feel momentum.
And most importantly: honor their pace.
Your Coaching Space Isn’t Neutral Until It’s Safe:
Saying ‘everyone is welcome’ isn’t the same as making someone feel welcome. That takes:
- Using testimonials or messaging that include male experiences.
- Avoiding language that labels emotional suppression as toxic.
- Modeling curiosity, not correction.
Marketing That Resonates with Men:
Want to reach more male clients? Shift from healing jargon to human language.
Instead of:
‘Unblock your inner child and align your divine energy’
Try:
‘You’re allowed to feel stuck. You’re allowed to ask for support. Let’s work through it—no pressure, no performance.’
This isn’t about dumbing things down. It’s about removing barriers so they can walk in.
Rewrite the Narrative
This week, write a post or create a short video speaking directly to men:
- Normalize needing help.
- Validate emotional struggle.
- Show them what safe support looks like.
Final Thought:
You don’t need to specialize in men’s coaching to be part of the shift.
You just need to show up without assumptions—and with enough humility to ask, ‘How can I hold space for you?’ instead of assuming you already know.
The ripple starts there. And it’s long overdue.