Ever Feel Like Being a Man Means Being Misunderstood?
You handle a lot. Work pressure, relationship stress, family obligations, questions about who you are and where your life is headed. And somewhere along the way, most guys learn to just push through — to figure it out on their own, to not make a big deal out of it.
But pushing through and actually working through it are two very different things. If you’ve been feeling stuck, disconnected, anxious, or like something is just off — and you can’t quite put your finger on why — that’s exactly what therapy is for.
At 2nd Story Counseling in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, we work with men from all walks of life: straight and gay, single and partnered, early career and mid-life, first responders and executives. Our therapists understand the unique pressures men face — and we offer a real, no-nonsense space to start making sense of them.
📲 Ready to take the first step?
Call us at 773-528-1777 or use our secure online contact form. All sessions are confidential.
🧠 Why Men Come to Therapy (And Why It’s Hard to Start)
Men are less likely than women to seek mental health support — not because they struggle less, but because they’re often taught to deal with it silently. From childhood, many guys absorb the message that needing help is a weakness. That real men don’t talk about their feelings. That you should be able to handle things yourself.
The result? Anxiety that gets written off as stress. Depression that looks like irritability or withdrawal. Relationship problems that never get resolved because no one taught you how to have the conversation. Trauma that gets buried, not processed.
Therapy doesn’t ask you to become someone you’re not. It asks you to look honestly at what’s going on — with the guidance of a trained professional who has your back. A lot of the men who come to us say they wish they’d started sooner.
♂ Men’s Therapy Near Lakeview, Wrigleyville, and Chicago’s North Side
Our Lakeview office offers men’s therapy in Chicago from a location that is easy to reach from several North Side neighborhoods. We are located at 655 W. Irving Park Road, Suite 204, near Broadway, Sheridan Road, Clark Street, and the Sheridan Red Line station. Clients often come to us from Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Buena Park, Uptown, Northalsted, Ravenswood, Andersonville, and Lincoln Park.
🚇 For men who use public transportation, our office is close to the CTA Red Line at Sheridan and accessible by nearby bus routes along Irving Park Road, Broadway, Clark Street, and Sheridan Road. For those driving, street parking may be available in the surrounding area, though availability can vary depending on the time of day, Cubs games, neighborhood events, and general traffic around Wrigleyville and Lakeview.
🚗 Whether you are coming by CTA, rideshare, bike, or car, our goal is to make accessing men’s therapy in Chicago feel welcoming, practical, and grounded in the part of the city where many men live, work, commute, and build their daily routines.
💬 What Our Men’s Therapists Help With
Our therapists work with men on a wide range of concerns. Below are some of the most common issues men bring into the room at 2nd Story Counseling.
😰 Anxiety & Stress
Constant worry. Racing thoughts at 2am. The feeling that you’re always one step behind. Anxiety in men often doesn’t look like panic attacks — it shows up as irritability, restlessness, trouble concentrating, or physical tension you can’t shake. Our therapists use evidence-based approaches including CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapy to help you understand what’s driving your anxiety and build real skills for managing it.
😔 Depression & Low Mood
For men, depression often doesn’t look like sadness. It looks like numbness. Losing interest in things you used to enjoy. Working longer hours to avoid going home. Snapping at people you care about. Drinking more than you should. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t have to stay this way. Depression is highly treatable, and therapy is one of the most effective tools available.
💑 Relationship & Communication Challenges
Conflict that keeps repeating. Emotional distance in your partnership. Difficulty expressing what you actually feel. Men often struggle with intimacy not because they don’t care, but because they were never taught a vocabulary for it. Through relational therapy, you’ll learn to communicate more effectively, understand your patterns, and build the kind of connection you actually want — in romantic relationships, friendships, and family dynamics.
🧩 Trauma & Past Experiences
Childhood wounds. Difficult family dynamics. Combat exposure. Accidents. Loss. Trauma leaves a mark — and for men, the expectation to “get over it” often means the wound never fully heals. Our therapists include specialists in trauma-informed care, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is particularly well-suited for helping men reconnect with parts of themselves that have been shut down or buried.
🏳️🌈 Identity, Sexuality & LGBTQ+ Issues
2nd Story Counseling has deep roots in LGBTQ+ affirming care. We offer a genuinely welcoming space for gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning men navigating identity, coming out, minority stress, or the intersection of sexuality and mental health. Our Gay Men’s Therapy page goes deeper on these specialized services.
⚙️ Other Common Men’s Issues
- Anger management — understanding what’s beneath the anger and finding healthier outlets
- Self-esteem & self-worth — rebuilding confidence after failure, loss, or years of self-criticism
- Career stress & burnout — navigating work pressure, job loss, or a career that’s lost its meaning
- Life transitions — divorce, fatherhood, retirement, loss of a parent, major identity shifts
- Grief & loss — processing grief in a culture that tells men to move on quickly
- First responders — we have specific experience with Chicago police, firefighters, and paramedics dealing with occupational stress and secondary trauma
- Addiction & substance use — counseling for alcohol, drug, or sex addiction that addresses the root causes, not just the behavior
🔧 How Our Chicago Men’s Therapists Work
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to men’s therapy. What works for one person may not work for another, and good therapy should feel like it was designed for you — not a generic template.
At 2nd Story Counseling, our therapists draw from a range of evidence-based and humanistic modalities depending on what each client needs:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) — A highly effective approach for men who feel stuck in patterns they can’t explain. IFS helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself — including the ones that might be driving anxiety, anger, or avoidance — with curiosity rather than shame.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Practical, goal-oriented work on the thoughts and behaviors that keep you stuck.
- Relational Therapy — Exploring how your early experiences shaped the way you connect (or disconnect) with others today.
- Solution-Focused Therapy — For men who want practical direction and measurable progress, not years of open-ended exploration.
- Mindfulness-Based Approaches — Learning to slow down, tune in, and respond rather than react.
We’ll talk through what matters most to you, match you with the right therapist, and build a plan that fits your life — not the other way around.
👥 Meet Our Men’s Therapists in Chicago
One of the most important parts of therapy is finding a therapist you actually click with. At 2nd Story Counseling, you’ll have access to a team of skilled, experienced therapists — each with their own approach and areas of specialty. Below are some of the therapists on our team who work with men.
Greg Harms, PsyD, LCP
Staff Therapist
Brings doctoral-level training to work with men navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity. Skilled in evidence-based approaches with a warm, direct style.
Costa Provis, MA, LCPC
Staff Therapist
Works with men on anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and stress management. Known for a practical, grounded approach that gets results without unnecessary jargon.
Frank Lotta, MA, LPC
Staff Therapist
Specializes in trauma, men’s issues, and relational therapy. Frank’s direct, empathetic style resonates with men who want to make real progress, not just talk in circles.
Brendan Wolter, MSW
Staff Therapist
Works with men on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and life transitions. Brings a supportive, collaborative approach that meets clients where they are. Goal focused and oriented.
Tom Pirttimaki, MA
Staff Therapist
Skilled in working with men navigating relationship challenges, identity questions, and emotional growth. Creates a calm, non-judgmental environment for deeper self-exploration.
John Moore, PhD, LCPC
Founder
Founder of 2nd Story Counseling with decades of experience working with men. Specializes in men’s issues, problem solving, and IFS therapy.
View All Therapists at 2nd Story →
🗓️ What to Expect When You Start Men’s Therapy at 2nd Story
Starting therapy can feel like a big step — especially if you’ve never done it before, or if you’ve had a mixed experience in the past. Here’s what the process looks like at 2nd Story Counseling:
- Reach out — Call us at 773-528-1777 or submit a confidential message through our contact form. We’ll respond quickly and answer any questions you have.
- Get matched — We’ll talk through what you’re looking for and match you with a therapist whose skills and style are a good fit for your needs.
- Your first session — The first appointment is a chance to get comfortable, share what’s going on, and start building a picture of your goals. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out.
- Ongoing work — Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly, 50 minutes each. Most men start noticing real changes within the first several weeks.
💳 Insurance & Fees
2nd Story Counseling accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and offers a sliding scale fee for clients who qualify. Visit our Fees page to learn more. We also offer virtual therapy for clients throughout Illinois who prefer to meet online.
🏙️ Why Choose 2nd Story Counseling for Men’s Therapy in Chicago?
There are a lot of therapists in Chicago. Here’s what makes 2nd Story Counseling stand out for men specifically:
- A team approach — You’re not limited to one clinician. With more than a dozen therapists on staff, we have the flexibility to match you with exactly the right fit.
- LGBTQ+ affirming, always — Whether you identify as straight, gay, bi, queer, or anywhere else on the spectrum, you will be met with respect, competence, and genuine understanding. We’ve served the Boystown and Lakeview LGBTQ+ community for years.
- Specialized experience with men — We understand how masculinity, culture, and identity shape the way men relate to their own emotions. We don’t just apply a generic therapy model to men — we work with the specific landscape of being a guy in 2026.
- Convenient Lakeview location — We’re located at 655 W. Irving Park Road, Suite 204, easily accessible from Lakeview, Boystown, Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, and surrounding neighborhoods. Street parking and public transit nearby.
- Telehealth available — Prefer to meet from home or your office? We offer secure virtual therapy for Illinois residents.
- Confidential, judgment-free — Everything discussed in therapy stays between you and your therapist. Period.
Ready to Talk to a Men’s Therapist in Chicago?
You don’t have to have it all figured out before you reach out. Most of the men we work with just knew something needed to change. That’s enough to get started.
655 W. Irving Park Road, Suite 204 · Chicago, IL 60613 · All sessions confidential