ABSTRACT Objective Adolescent males remain a difficult population to engage in counselling and psychotherapy despite being at a high risk for mental health problems. Limited training opportunities exist to prepare therapists to support this specific population. The aim of this study was to explore the common challenges that Australian therapists face when working with young men to guide future training and intervention. Method Semi‐structured interviews were completed with 13 Australian therapists, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and social workers, who were recruited through professional association websites and publications. Responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes and eight subthemes were developed: (1) therapists' lack of confidence when working with young men; (2) young men as pressured and ill‐prepared to attend therapy; and (3) young men's reluctance to ‘open up’ throughout therapy. Conclusion The challenges provided by Australian therapists align with the broader international literature highlighting young men's reluctance towards counselling and psychotherapy and warrants the need for a concerted research agenda to engage this population. Responses from therapists showed that young men's disengagement and resistance in therapy create challenges for therapists when it comes to building therapeutic rapport and can subsequently stymie young men's continued engagement with mental health services. Recommendations for future research and intervention are discussed.
Sadiqi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.