Counseling Aging Men: Best Practices for Group Counseling

Abstract

The aging population in the United States is the fastest growing population, expected to double by 2050. Advances in medicine and health care have extended life expectancy; however, research exploring the mental health experience for the aging population is critical. Current research suggests that only 6% to 8% of people ages 60 years and older seek counseling services even though later life stages involve many transitions, such as income instability, retirement, and physical limitations (Myers & Harper, 2004). The aging population is underserved in the counseling field, and aging men have emerged as one of the most underserved groups. The limited research on aging men’s experiences suggests that they experience counseling differently (Greer, 2005, June; Winerman, 2005, June, Wright & Elam, 2016) and that stigma remains a significant deterrent (Englar-Carlson, Evans, & Duffey, 2014). Group counseling has emerged as an effective treatment modality to combat stigma. Men spend much of their adult life engaged in groups at work, teams, volunteer work, and friendships (Wexler, 2009). In this article, the authors discuss counseling the aging population with an emphasis on men’s issues and best practices for group counseling with older men to improve treatment retention and outcomes.