Written by: Aman Bhardwaj, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Social Worker at Peak Resilience
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Asking for help does not make you less of a man
In an episode of the television series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the main character, Will, gets a job at a restaurant to pay for his Homecoming dance. He feels he is becoming too dependent on his uncle (who he lives with), which is why he wants to pay for the fees himself. He does this to prove to himself and others that he is a “man” who needs to do everything on his own and provide for himself. To Will, that is a sign of a man who is successful, capable and independent.
Towards the end of this episode, there is a beautiful conversation that happens between Will and his uncle. In this scene, Will’s uncle explains to him how no human being is self-made. He mentions that no one reaches the success they reach in their lives without help of some kind. Will’s uncle describes his own life experiences growing up and how the people in his life helped open doors for him when he was younger. This now allows him to do the same for Will. The uncle then explains to Will that receiving help does not make him “any less of a man.”
You are not a burden
When I think of my life experiences as a man, my cultural experiences as an Indo-Canadian and the concept of men’s mental health, I remind myself of this important scene. Whether you are a man, a woman or someone who may come from a particular cultural background, this scene is a great reminder that you are not expected to go through this journey of life alone. No one in this lifetime makes it to where they make it to without some form of help, support or guidance along the way. Sometimes, we may feel as if we are being a burden on others by relying on them for support. However, the last scene in the episode above shows us the opposite, which is that we are all in this together and that it does not make us smaller as human beings when we ask for help.
What a counsellor can help with
A counsellor can help with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, intrusive thoughts and much more. Your counsellor can provide you with tips, tools or techniques to support you with any challenges you may be struggling with, at any point in your life.
Counselling helps open doors
Taking care of our mental health is key. We may all need extra support at certain points in our lives. Counsellors are here to meet you where you are, listen closely, stand with you and support you. We work together to overcome any struggles in your day-to-day life. Please be kind to yourself and remember to also reach out to your friends, family or community, if you ever do need help.
Book a counselling session
My name is Aman Bhardwaj and I am a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) at Peak Resilience. Anxiety, grief, trauma, cultural issues, boundaries, relationship/couples issues, men’s mental health and family conflicts are just a few of the many areas I can provide support for. I make sure to move at the client’s pace and take time to go through any feelings or thoughts the client may want to discuss in a session. I use many different therapy methods in my work. I make sure to use the ones that work best, depending on what a client may need or want. I invite you to look at my page and book a session if you are interested.
