What is wrong with me?
As queer and gay men most of us grew up with the feeling that there was something wrong with us- we were not straight or masculine or confident enough. The shame we felt about being different was not only attached to our hidden sexual identity, but suffused our whole sense of self. Even as you have grown out of your need to hide your attraction to other guys, you probably feel the residue of shame attaching to other aspects of your being.
Years of looking over our shoulder to see how others are judging us leaves with us a tendency to keep seeing ourselves through the eyes of other men. We are left with the feeling that we are NOT ENOUGH.
The answer to the question of what is wrong with you is simple: NOTHING. At your core you are full of love and vitality even if you have picked up some bad or self-defeating habits along the way. Group and individual therapy can help you catch that critical internal voice before it settles in to bully you. Therapy can help you see how you maintain the wall you built around your heart in order to survive. You can learn how to be tender with yourself as you do the hard work of undoing patterns that protect, but defeat you. Let’s get going.
More Info:
Will Swift, Ph.D. is offering therapy sessions in person, online, and by phone.
To schedule a session, please contact Dr. Swift at 212-517-6942 or drwswift@gmail.com.
NYC Gay Men’s Therapy Group meets weekly at Dr. Swift’s office in Manhattan.
To join the group, please contact Dr. Swift at 212-517-6942 or drwswift@gmail.com.
In Will’s Words:
Recent articles and posts from Will Swift, Ph.D.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Swift—or for more information—please call (212) 517-6942 or email drwswift@gmail.com.