Mountain range with a grassy hill in the foreground, bathed in golden light, under a clear blue sky.

Issues that affect you

Westside Counseling Blog

Close-up of a man with glasses and facial hair
“I’m Fine” and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves: When Stoicism Becomes a Mask
Ervin Henderson Ervin Henderson

“I’m Fine” and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves: When Stoicism Becomes a Mask

Most men I know have mastered the art of pretending. We say “I’m fine” like it’s a password to get through the day. But the truth? It’s usually messier, heavier, and buried under a thousand layers of silence. This article is about peeling those layers back—and learning that strength has room for softness.

Read More
10 Practical Ways to Practice Self-Care
Ervin Henderson Ervin Henderson

10 Practical Ways to Practice Self-Care

Self-care isn’t about pampering—it’s about presence. It’s the quiet discipline of listening to your needs, tending to your limits, and choosing compassion over perfection. In a noisy, demanding world, it’s how we stay whole.

Read More
Father First: Mental Health for Men Who Put Family Before Themselves
Ervin Henderson Ervin Henderson

Father First: Mental Health for Men Who Put Family Before Themselves

There’s a kind of silence that fathers carry—not from lack of love, but from the sheer weight of holding everything together. We show up, pay the bills, fix the leak, wipe the tears. But somewhere in the noise of obligation, a question lingers quietly: When was the last time someone checked on you?

This piece isn't about blaming or breaking down. It's about rebuilding—from the inside out. Because what good is the pillar, if it’s crumbling at the core?

Read the full story. Reclaim your strength. You’re not alone.

Read More
Overcoming Personalization: Strategies to Break Free from the Guilt Trap
Ervin Henderson Ervin Henderson

Overcoming Personalization: Strategies to Break Free from the Guilt Trap

Personalization is a cognitive distortion characterized by the belief that one is responsible for events or outcomes that are beyond their control. In many cases, personalization involves interpreting neutral events as negative reflections of oneself, which reinforces the belief that one is at fault.

Read More