Therapy for Men with Anxiety & Relationship Struggles

Calm your mind, ease your body, and rebuild connection.

Most of the men I work with feel weighed down by responsibility and expectations, often doubting if they are doing enough. They describe carrying racing thoughts, chest tightness, irritability, and the pressure to succeed without ever feeling settled.

My approach combines mind–body work with a focus on cultural and family expectations, creating space for authentic living while rebuilding trust and closeness at home.

A man with dark curly hair and a beard, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, sits on a brown leather couch in front of a wooden and white wall, smiling at the camera.

Welcome

I’m Rafael, a therapist for men and couples who feel like they carry more pressure than anyone sees.

Clients tell me their anxiety often feels like restlessness, racing thoughts, or a stomach that stays tight and unsettled. Alongside these symptoms is an inner critic that keeps them stuck or disconnected from the people who matter most.

Some begin therapy on their own, worn down by self-doubt and expectations. Others arrive as couples, tired of repeating the same arguments and longing to feel close again.

However you begin, our work will focus on calming anxiety in both mind and body, breaking cycles of distance in relationships, and moving toward a steadier, more connected life.

What Anxiety Feels Like

Anxiety does not always sound like “worry.” Often men describe:

  • Racing thoughts or restlessness that will not shut off

  • Trouble focusing or procrastination, sometimes mistaken for ADHD

  • Avoiding social events or shutting down with a partner

  • Chest tightness, stomach knots, or a body that stays tense

  • Poor sleep that leaves them drained

  • Feeling on edge after stress, or irritable with loved ones

  • Pressure to succeed while losing touch with who they are

How Relationship Issues Show Up

Anxiety often affects relationships as much as the individual. Couples I work with are often:

  • Caught in cycles of arguing, criticism, or silence

  • Struggling with distance or disconnection

  • Wanting more emotional openness but not knowing how to get there

  • Ready to break old patterns and create safer ways to reach for each other

How We’ll Work Together

My approach is culturally responsive and practical. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you:

  • Quiet racing thoughts and ease physical tension

  • Build confidence that is not tied only to performance or success

  • Strengthen openness and connection in your relationships

  • Reconnect with your values, your voice, and the people who matter most

Whether you are here for individual therapy or with your partner, I offer a supportive space to slow down, understand what is getting in the way, and begin creating lasting change.

Services

Individual Therapy

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Work through racing thoughts, restlessness, and the pressure to always perform. Build lasting confidence, reduce physical tension, and feel more grounded in your daily life.

Explore Individual Therapy →

Couples Therapy

Two hands reaching towards each other, with the right hand wearing a ring, set against a blurred green background.

Break free from cycles of conflict or silence. Rebuild trust, improve communication, and create safer ways to reach for each other so you can feel close again.

Explore Couples Therapy →

About Me

I know how cultural values, family roles, and unspoken rules about strength and responsibility can shape the way men carry anxiety. For many, those expectations become both a source of resilience and a heavy weight.

My work honors those strengths while helping you step into calmer, more connected relationships without losing who you are in the process. Read My Story →

Online Therapy Across California

I provide online therapy for men and couples throughout California, including Southern California and beyond. Whether you’re in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, or anywhere else in the state, we can meet virtually to begin this work together.

Ready to Begin?

You do not have to keep carrying the weight of anxiety or distance in your relationships on your own. Let’s start today.