Considering the Future of Men’s Counseling

“I want to stop violence against my family.” To assist men with this request, the first telephone counseling service in Japan exclusively for men – the Hotline for Men in Distress – was established 25 years ago. It started as a small private organization, but has gradually expanded, and now more than eighty local governments have started counseling services. This April, a new website for men’s counseling, “Otokokoro-net,” was launched with the goal of linking those who wish to receive counseling, make connections, or assist with men’s counseling.
 
In this changing society, men are facing an abundance of challenges such as suicide, domestic violence, abuse, as well as power and sexual harassment. However, for men who believe that “men shouldn’t give up easily,” or that “men should be strong,” showing vulnerability by speaking with a counselor can be a highly risky move. Counseling that targets men must take into account the potential for these conflicted feelings and provide a space to think together. Men’s counselors are required to face these particular difficulties facing men in addition to having expert counseling knowledge. In order to develop a culture of counseling for men, Japan Training Seminars for Men’s Counseling have been periodically convened to help men’s counselors gain experience. (In February 2022, the sixth seminar is planned to be held in Osaka sponsored by the Osaka Municipal Gender Equality Center Central in collaboration with the Japan Men’s Counseling Forum.)

How do we define men’s counseling, which has been developed over the past 25 years based on the experience of both consultor and counselor, and where is this type of counseling heading in the future? In this webinar, to commemorate the launch of “Otokokoro-net,” we will invite practitioners from inside and outside of Japan to share their knowledge and experience and explore opportunities for healing and harmony through men’s counseling.