When you become a new parent, it’s difficult to balance having children with your own needs. In society, there’s a lot of dialogue about how moms need to take care of themselves, and they have the ability to join a multitude of groups for new mothers, but when it comes to being a father, there aren’t a lot of resources readily accessible. Dads have an adjustment period to being a new parent as well. One of the places you can talk about your feelings and needs as a father is in therapy.

Therapy helps new dads 

In therapy, new dads can discuss the transition between being childless to having someone to take care of. Whether you’re a single dad or someone that’s in a relationship, whether that’s married or with a partner but unmarried, it’s a transition. Taking care of someone besides yourself is a huge responsibility that requires a lot of introspection, and parenthood can come with a lot of anxiety.

Therapy is a wonderful place to that out as well as other things that you might be facing. Let’s say that you had a lot of trauma as a child; society stigmatizes men for speaking up about mental health issues such as trauma, whether you have children or not. It can be difficult to find the courage to seek mental health treatment if you’re a new dad. Especially if you experienced trauma during childhood or your teen years, maybe you’re afraid of being a parent because your own parents weren’t supportive at home or you endured trauma. Perhaps your own dad wasn’t present, and you worry that you don’t know what it means to be a dad because you didn’t have one. These are all things that you can talk about in therapy.

Even if you’ve not had childhood trauma, there are many other reasons to go to therapy as you transition into being a parent.

Supporting your partner 

Being a dad is about taking care of your child, and it also about being supportive as a co-parent if you’re not a single dad. It’s a matter of balancing your needs with your partner’s needs and the child’s needs. You might have a different view of parenting than your partner, and that’s okay. Everyone views being a parent differently, and if you have parenting conflicts with your partner, therapy is a place to discuss those issues. Your therapist will help you learn to communicate with your partner and express your needs. Co-parenting can be challenging, especially if there are different parenting styles or views involved, but when you talk to a therapist, you can gain clarity on these issues.

Frustrations with your child 

Another issue you can discuss in therapy is any challenges you’re having with your children. Parenting can be extremely challenging and exhausting, and a therapist understands this. You have the right to express these frustrations, and a mental health professional cares and can help you with those concerns. Remember that your feelings are valid, and sometimes, thoughts that you experience when you’re frustrated can be stressful or dark, and that’s okay. A therapist won’t judge you for whatever you’re feeling regarding your child, and it’s better to express these feelings than it is to keep them inside. If you want to find a therapist, there are many ways to go about it.

Online therapy or seeing a therapist in your local neighborhood 

Maybe you’re thinking, “where can I find therapists near me?” You can do that by looking at various search engines on the internet. There are many online therapy sites that provide flexible and affordable therapy, or you might decide to see someone in a private practice setting such as Dr. Evan Fewsmith. Regardless of what you choose, as a dad, you have the right to mental health treatment, and regardless of what others are saying in your life, it’s integral to express your emotions so that you can be the best parent you can be and have a fulfilling life where you’re taking care of yourself. Being a dad who goes to therapy is something to be proud of, and you can talk about the challenges of fatherhood with a therapist who cares.

About the Author

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com.

With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.