Male-friendly counselling for young men: a thematic analysis of client and caregiver experiences of Menslink counselling

Abstract

Objective: Across the lifespan, young males in Australia who are experiencing mental health problems report the lowest rates of seeking professional care. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of young men and caregivers who received male-friendly counselling from a male-specific service in Australia Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 young men who had received counselling, and 27 caregivers who facilitated access to Menslink counselling in Canberra, Australia. Inductive thematic analysis was completed to analyse the data Results: Four themes were developed: (1) engaged out of desperation; (2) appeal of Menslink service; (3) counsellor more like a professional “friend”; and (4) counsellor prioritised my autonomy Conclusion: The findings confirm the suitability of previously recommended adaptations to counselling to engage young men and emphasise the role of caregivers in facilitating access to support. The themes also provide direction for practical adjustments to service delivery that mental health services and clinicians can make to address personal and structural barriers impacting young men’s service contact and engagement. This study contributes to the growing literature examining the benefits of male-friendly counselling practices in psychological treatment for young men.