Therapy for men · Chicago
Therapy for men in Chicago
Maybe you keep busy so you do not have to think about what is bothering you. Maybe you can explain the problem but cannot seem to change the pattern. Therapy gives you time to understand what is happening and decide how you want to respond.
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What has been taking up space?
Men come to therapy for many reasons. Your experience may include:
- Worry that follows you into evenings and weekends
- A short fuse, shutting down, or difficulty naming what you feel
- Pressure to provide, perform, or be the person others depend on
- Feeling disconnected despite staying busy
- Harsh self-criticism, uncertainty, or difficulty asking for support
- Grief or a change that has unsettled your sense of direction
These are possible starting points, not assumptions about you. We will focus on what matters in your life.
More than what you accomplish
Make room for a fuller picture of yourself.
Understand your responses
We can look at what happens before you withdraw, overwork, or become frustrated. Understanding a pattern gives us somewhere practical to begin.
Practice a different response
That might mean setting a limit, recognizing an emotion sooner, or taking a manageable step toward something you have been avoiding.
Choose what matters now
You may want more space for interests, friendship, rest, or a different direction at work. We can explore goals that reflect your priorities.
Fatherhood and changing responsibilities
Becoming a father—or adjusting as your children grow—can bring changes in time, identity, and expectations. You may feel grateful and overwhelmed at once.
Individual therapy can be a place to understand your reactions, consider the expectations you learned growing up, and make room for your own needs alongside your responsibilities. You do not need to be a parent to work with me.
How I work with men
I am Sam Rustum, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Chicago. My approach combines thoughtful exploration with practical steps. We can talk directly about what is difficult without requiring you to use clinical language or share everything immediately.
Depending on your goals, our work may draw on CBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and IFS approaches. We will check in about what feels useful and adjust together.
Your background, identity, values, and experience of masculinity belong in the conversation. There is no single model you need to fit.
A closer look at an ordinary moment
Suppose you come home tense and pull away when your partner asks about your day. We might slow down that exchange. Were you still preparing for tomorrow? Did the question feel like another demand? Was it difficult to admit that something had affected you?
From there, we could practice recognizing the reaction sooner and finding words for what you need. You might try asking for a short period to settle before talking, then notice whether you return to the conversation. This is an example of how reflection can connect with a specific change in everyday life.
Our work can also include questions that are harder to measure: what you want from friendship, how you would like to relate to your family, or which interests have gradually disappeared from your week. We will consider changes that fit your circumstances.
I draw on CBT, ACT, and psychodynamic therapy, and I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS). We will talk about how an approach fits the concerns you bring and keep checking whether the work feels useful.
Questions you may be asking
What if I mostly feel irritated or numb?
We can start there. We may look at when that feeling appears, what your body is doing, and what has been happening in your life. You can describe your experience in your own words.
Do I need to talk about childhood?
Earlier experiences can be useful when they help us understand a current pattern. We will discuss why we are exploring something and connect the conversation to what matters in your life now.
Can I come because a relationship is struggling?
Yes. In individual therapy, we can explore your reactions, needs, and patterns in relationships. You can also bring questions about what you want to communicate or change.
A place to begin
Let’s make room for what you need.
A free 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to talk about what is difficult, answer your questions, and consider whether working together fits what you need.