Forward Therapy

12/04/2026

The idea of a masculinity crisis is everywhere right now, especially in conversations coming out of the Manosphere.

I’m noticing more men quietly questioning whether they’re “enough”.

Am I masculine enough? Successful enough? Desirable enough?

With the release of 'Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere' on Netflix, more attention is being given to the messages men are absorbing about what it means to be a man.

What I see in practice is not a lack of masculinity. It’s men trying to perform a moving target.

Men start wondering if something is wrong with them.

Low testosterone? Dopamine dysregulation? Lack of discipline? 🤔

Supplement culture steps in with solutions. More energy. More focus. More drive.

But the underlying message doesn’t change: "You are not enough yet".

Over time, this version of masculinity starts to shape relationships. Other people can become competitors, an audience, or tools for validation.

This masculinity crisis has shame loop that can keep men stuck in it. 👉 Read about it here:

https://www.forwardtherapy.com/2026/04/masculinity-crisis/

01/04/2026

Do you recognise any of these patterns in your relationship?

❓Feeling responsible for your partner's emotional state.
❓Automatically accommodating demands you're not comfortable with.
❓Feeling guilty about wanting to leave, even when you know something isn't right.

These are signs of a codependent or enmeshed relationship dynamic, and they're more common in gay male relationships than many people realise.

My latest article explores these patterns honestly and compassionately, including some practical guidance on finding your way forward.

Read it here 👇 🔗

https://www.gaycounsellor.com.au/relationships/codependent-gay-relationship/

For information about fees, Medicare benefits or health insurance benefits see my Fees Page. See my list of available times. To contact me for an appointment, fill in the form below. I work with people all over the world, so include your location and whether you are interested in meeting in my consu...

04/02/2026

Great article about the new NSW laws into coercive control by Schultz in the Sydney Morning Herald today.

Coercive control is when someone uses repeated patterns of physical or non-physical abuse to hurt, scare, intimidate, threaten or control someone. It became a crime in NSW in July 2024.

If you feel trapped in an abusive relationship, help is available. Reach out to a counsellor, support service or NSW Police for guidance and safety planning.

In public the Sydney man was the picture-perfect partner, but behind the scenes was manipulative and controlling.

01/01/2026

Ever been caught in an obsessive loop over someone who barely knows you're alive, or keeps pulling away?

That could be limerence. It's not love. It's an emotional fixation driven by fantasy, unavailability, and the hope that maybe this time they'll love you back.

Limerence can hijack your thoughts, impact your wellbeing, and leave you feeling anxious, isolated, and ashamed.

Limerence often appears with anxious attachment concerns or ADHD. But you can break free from it.

📘 Read now: https://www.lovecounselling.com/trapped-in-limerence-when-obsession-feels-like-love

✨ You don’t have to do it alone. Love Counselling can help you get back to yourself.

24/12/2025

Moving Forward into 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/1c03980a3e29/moving-forward-into-2026

22/12/2025

Family events aren’t joyful for everyone.

For some people, Christmas and other family gatherings bring up old wounds. They’re attended out of obligation rather than excitement. Dates of dread quietly counted down until they’re over.

When families come together, familiar patterns often reappear. People pleasing. Walking on eggshells. Silencing your needs to keep the peace.

These reactions don’t mean something is wrong with you. They often reflect experiences where safety, support, or acceptance were missing.

I’ve written more about this here:

Family Trauma and the Hidden Costs of People Pleasing

https://www.forwardtherapy.com/2025/12/family-trauma-and-the-hidden-costs-of-people-pleasing/

Living with family trauma can lead to people pleasing, shame, and estrangement. Learn how to rebuild self-trust through compassion and support.

15/12/2025

Recent Medicare changes mean that accessing a Mental Health Treatment Plan now depends on having a regular GP, not just any clinic.

For gay men, this matters more than it might seem. Many of us move between practices, delay care, or only see a doctor when something feels urgent. But mental health often shows up first as physical symptoms. Sleep problems. Gut issues. Loss of libido. Anxiety after breakups. Burnout that looks like ADHD.

Continuity of care matters.

I’ve written about why having a regular GP for gay men is so important, and what these changes mean in practice. Read more 👉 https://www.gaycounsellor.com.au/mental-health/your-mental-health-deserves-a-gp-for-gay-men/

27/11/2025

Is it ADHD? Or an imposter?

Not everything that looks like ADHD is ADHD. Anxiety, burnout, trauma, sleep loss and nervous system overload can masquerade as attention problems.

Over the past year, “Is it ADHD?” has become one of the most common questions people bring into my Surry Hills and video clinics. Sometimes the diagnosis fits. Often, the story is more complex. 🔍🔍🔍

I’ve written a new article about the hidden imposters that can sit behind a scattered mind and why broadening the lens matters before rushing to an ADHD diagnosis:

Is it ADHD? Hidden Imposters Behind a Scattered Mind: https://www.forwardtherapy.com/2025/11/is-it-adhd-hidden-imposters-behind-a-scattered-mind/

If you’re questioning your focus, overwhelm or emotional regulation, this piece may help you reflect more gently on what’s really going on.

15/09/2025

I work with religious trauma. With people recovering from religion. No one who has experienced religious trauma should be locked into a non-disclosure agreement. It can re-traumatise survivors .

In the streets of suburban Sydney lies the spiritual headquarters of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church — a secretive, ultra-wealthy organisation whose $...

22/07/2025

Daddy Issues: What do they really mean for gay men?

Whether you’re wrestling with anxious attachment, abandonment fears, or stigma around being attracted to older men, there’s no shame in seeking connection, safety, or love.

‘Daddy Issues’ isn’t a clinical term but a pop psychology expression that means different things for different people. Private therapy can help you reclaim your story with compassion.

https://www.gaycounsellor.com.au/attachment/daddy-issues/

Not all daddy issues are about trauma. And not all intergenerational desire is unhealthy. This post explores shame, stigma, and healing in gay men’s relationships.

14/07/2025

Have you ever found yourself doing all the emotional work in a connection (checking in, holding space, trying to make sense of hot-and-cold behaviour) while the other person slowly fades away?

That exhaustion you’re feeling isn’t in your head. It’s the cost of emotional labour in a one-sided relationship.

Ghosting and emotional withdrawal can feel like grief. And often, the people I work with in therapy arrive not because of a relationship ending, but because of the confusing way it just slipped away.

This kind of burnout, anxiety, and self-doubt is common, especially when your emotional needs are unmet, dismissed, or met with silence. Therapy can help you:

✔ Name what’s really happening
✔ Break free from cycles of emotional overwork
✔ Restore boundaries and self-respect
✔ Reconnect with your voice and values

Find out more here:
👉 https://www.lovecounselling.com/emotional-labour

Ghosting hurts. Emotional labour and mankeeping leave you anxious, exhausted, and doubting yourself. Learn how love counselling can help you heal and reclaim your dignity. Medicare rebates available.

10/07/2025

Is “ma********on addiction” a real diagnosis or a reflection of something deeper?
More men are reaching out to talk about habits they feel stuck in: edging, gooning, secrecy, guilt, and shame around ma********on.
But often, what’s really going on isn’t addiction in the clinical sense. It’s the emotional weight behind the behaviour: the loneliness, the anxiety, the need for relief that became a ritual.
I’ve written a new post exploring this topic with nuance and care.
If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone.
And you don’t have to figure this out by yourself.

👉 https://www.forwardtherapy.com/ma********on-addiction

********onAddiction

Concerned about ma********on addiction? Therapy can help you break the urge cycle with care, not shame.