I speak about men’s mental health and consent because I’ve witnessed firsthand how deeply these issues matter. For nearly a decade, I’ve volunteered in spaces ranging from veteran services and suicide prevention to rape crisis hotlines, anti-human trafficking efforts, domestic abuse shelters, and more. I’ve seen how men are rarely given permission to set boundaries, to feel safe in their own bodies, or to say “no” without shame. As a rape survivor and someone who’s spent much of my life navigating the realities of unwanted sexual pressure, I know the cost of silence. And as a somatic healer, I understand the power of grounding back into our bodies to reclaim choice, safety, and presence. My purpose is to create a culture where men are free to feel, to heal, and to know their worth— because when men are supported, everyone benefits.
I believe men’s mental health deserves more care than it is given. For nearly a decade, I’ve volunteered in spaces where men are struggling in silence – Veteran services, suicide prevention initiatives, rape crisis hotlines, domestic abuse shelters, anti-human trafficking efforts, food banks, and beyond. In each of these places, I’ve seen how much men carry quietly, how rarely they are encouraged to share openly & how deeply the lack of permission to express vulnerability impacts their lives.
One area that is especially overlooked is consent. We’ve put so much emphasis on teaching men to hear “no” that we’ve forgotten to teach them that they can say it too. Boys and men are often raised with messages that they must perform or comply. That conditioning strips them of the chance to truly understand their own boundaries, and in turn, it impacts their ability to fully respect the boundaries of others. Teaching men to say “no” is not just about preventing harm – it’s about giving them the right to agency, to bodily autonomy, and to authentic connection. It empowers them to respect their limits, to expect their limits to be respected, and to recognize “no” from others without confusion or defensiveness.
This work is personal for me. As a rape survivor and someone who has spent much of my life finding ways to move safely through a world where I am navigating unwanted advances, I know both sides of this story. I know what it means to have my boundaries disregarded, and I also know how important it is that men learn they have the right to set and hold their own. These two truths are connected – men who are given tools for consent, self-respect, and emotional grounding are far less likely to perpetuate harm, and far more likely to build healthier relationships.
As a somatic healer, I’ve seen the power of helping people come back into their bodies – because it’s in our bodies that we feel “yes,” “no,” and “not yet.” When men are cut off from their ability to feel, they lose access to the compass that guides authentic intimacy and emotional well-being. Helping men reconnect to that inner compass isn’t just therapeutic – it’s transformative. It changes how they relate to themselves, to partners, to families, and to communities.
My purpose is to build spaces where men are not shamed for their struggles, not pathologized for their sexuality & not silenced when they hurt. Instead, I want men to be supported in learning self-awareness, boundaries, emotional literacy, and the courage to ask for help. When men are healthier, more grounded, and more connected to themselves, everyone benefits.