External Resources
Asking for help can feel like admitting you are failing. It is closer to the opposite: it is what a father does when he wants to stay steady for his kids. This page explains how to find counseling services for dads, which type of counseling fits which problem, and how to pay for it without wrecking the family budget. Phenomenal Fatherhood does not provide therapy. We help you find the people who do.
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The word “counseling” covers several different services. Picking the right type saves you time.
One-on-one with a licensed therapist. Good for anxiety, depression, anger, grief, past trauma, or feeling like you are not yourself.
For partners whose relationship is strained by a new baby, money, or constant conflict. You do not have to be on the brink of a breakup to go.
Brings parents and kids together, often helpful with teens, blended families, or after a divorce or loss.
Focused on communication and logistics between parents who live apart. Sometimes recommended or ordered by family courts.
Start with your health insurance. Call the member services number on your card and ask for in-network behavioral health providers. If you have a job with benefits, check whether your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program; many cover a few free, confidential sessions.
Without insurance, try community mental health centers, university counseling training clinics (where supervised graduate students see clients at lower cost), and nonprofit family service agencies. Dialing 2-1-1 can help you find sliding-scale options in your county. Your primary care doctor can also refer you.
A short phone call can tell you a lot. It is normal to talk to two or three therapists before choosing one.
Fit matters more than credentials on paper. If after three sessions you do not feel heard, it is fine to try someone else.
Some issues have dedicated help. Postpartum Support International’s HelpLine (1-800-944-4773) has resources for dads, since fathers can also experience depression and anxiety after a baby arrives. If anyone in your home is unsafe, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
For stress that is building but not yet a crisis, read mental health and stress management for dads and the broader emotional and mental health section.
If your stress is tied to a specific family situation, such as a separation, a blended household or a child with big behavior challenges, mention that when you call. Some therapists focus on exactly those areas. For two-home families, the co-parenting and blended families support page explains when co-parenting counseling or mediation can help.
Therapy happens for an hour a week. The other 167 hours still need support. Many fathers combine counseling with a dads’ group or the Phenomenal Fatherhood online community, where Ask a Dad can connect members with an experienced father for peer perspective. Peer support adds to professional care; it does not replace it.
If you are thinking about suicide or feel unable to stay safe, call or text 988 now. You can also call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
FAQ
Ask your insurance for in-network providers and then call a few, asking directly whether they work with fathers or parenting stress. Your Employee Assistance Program, primary care doctor, and 211 can also give referrals.
Check for Employee Assistance Program sessions through work, use in-network insurance benefits, and look for sliding-scale fees at community mental health centers, nonprofit agencies and university training clinics.
Individual counseling focuses on you. Couples counseling works on the relationship between partners. Family counseling includes children and looks at how the whole household interacts. A therapist can help you decide which to start with.
Keep going
External Resources for DadsExternal resources for dads: how to find support groups, counselors, community centers and government help near you, and how to judge them. Start here today.
Emotional and Mental Health for Dads and FamiliesMental health for dads and their kids: resilience, family mindfulness, stress and burnout, and child anxiety. Learn the warning signs and where to get help.
Support Groups for DadsSupport groups for dads: how to find a local or online fathers’ group, what a good meeting looks like, and which one fits your season. Find your group.
Parental Self-Care StrategiesSelf-care strategies for parents that fit real life: building a self-care plan with your partner, protecting sleep and making time to recharge. Webinar guide.Ask a question, meet other dads in the 24/7 room, or join the community for resources and support at every stage.
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