Many men struggle silently with grief, loneliness, identity loss, and moral injury. Social expectations often teach men to stay strong, stay productive, and stay quiet about pain.
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, I speak with meaning-centered psychotherapist and logotherapist Baruch HaLevi (“Dr. B”) about how men’s groups help men transform suffering into purpose, connection, and resilience.
Drawing from Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, lived experience with suicide loss, and years of guiding men’s peer groups, Dr. B explains how meaning helps men move through life’s darkest chapters.
About Baruch HaLevi (“Dr. B”)
Dr. Baruch “B” HaLevi is a meaning-centered Logotherapist (meaning-centered therapy), men’s coach, and founder of Men’s Peer Groups, a growing movement creating real community and developmental spaces for men at life’s crossroads. With doctorates in counseling and divinity, formal training through the Viktor Frankl Institute, and over two decades of experience guiding men through grief, purpose, and identity, Dr. B works at the intersection of therapy and coaching—without getting trapped in either. His approach integrates Logotherapy, the Enneagram, spiritual practice, and lived experience to help men develop what Frankl called response-ability: the capacity to choose meaning, take responsibility, and live with clarity and courage.
Why Are Men’s Mental Health Struggles Often Hidden?
Many men are socialized to equate vulnerability with weakness. As a result, they often cope with emotional pain by withdrawing, staying busy, or trying to solve problems alone.
This isolation can increase risk for depression, substance misuse, and suicide. Research shows that men frequently have fewer emotionally supportive friendships and are less likely to seek help when struggling.
Men’s groups provide an alternative: a structured space where honesty, accountability, and shared experience help men reconnect with purpose and belonging.
How Do Men’s Groups Improve Mental Health?
Men’s groups improve mental health by replacing isolation with meaningful connection.
Instead of trying to “fix” one another, participants witness each other’s struggles and growth. Over time, this shared witnessing reduces shame and increases resilience.
Effective men’s groups often include:
structured conversations
shared rituals or practices
accountability among peers
opportunities to explore purpose and values
When men feel seen and needed, they are more likely to engage in healthier coping strategies and seek support when needed.
Why Is Meaning Important for Men Facing Difficult Times?
Meaning is a powerful protective factor during adversity.
Viktor Frankl, founder of logotherapy and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, argued that the primary human drive is not pleasure or power but meaning.
According to Frankl, meaning can be discovered in three ways:
Creating or accomplishing something
Experiencing love, beauty, or connection
Choosing one’s attitude toward unavoidable suffering
For many men, rediscovering meaning helps transform pain into purpose and despair into determination.
Why Do Men’s Groups Help Reduce Shame?
Shame thrives in isolation.
When men hear others express struggles similar to their own, whether about grief, identity, fatherhood, career stress, or loss, they often realize they are not alone.
Shared struggle reduces the belief that something is “wrong” with them. Instead, the group experience reinforces a healthier narrative: hardship is part of being human, and growth is possible.
“Men don’t need to be rescued. They need to be witnessed, challenged, and reminded they matter.”
What Makes a Men’s Group Safe but Not Soft?
A successful men’s group balances compassion with accountability.
Participants feel safe enough to be honest but are also encouraged to grow. This often includes:
respectful challenge from peers
encouragement to take responsibility for one’s life
conversations about purpose, values, and identity
consistent group structure and facilitation
This combination creates an environment where men can develop courage, authenticity, and meaningful connection.
What Is the “Defiant Spirit”?
The “Defiant Spirit” refers to the human capacity to choose meaning and responsibility even in the face of suffering.
More: https://www.mysoulcentered.org/blog/when-defiant-spirit-means-taking-responsibility
Inspired by Viktor Frankl’s work, this concept suggests that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond.
For many men navigating grief, trauma, or major life transitions, reclaiming agency through meaning can be a turning point in their healing.
What Is One Small Step Men Can Take Toward Meaning?
Dr. B suggests starting with a simple but powerful step:
Stop trying to face life’s hardest questions alone.
Meaning often emerges through relationships, shared reflection, and conversations that allow people to explore who they are becoming—not just what they are doing.
Joining a group, reaching out to a trusted friend, or engaging in a purposeful conversation can begin that process.
Reflection Question
What would change in your life if you stopped carrying your struggles alone?
Resources and References
Frankl, V. E. (1946). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
HaLevi, B. – Soul Centered and Men’s Peer Groups https://www.mysoulcentered.org/
Vickery, A. (2022). “It’s made me feel less isolated because there are other people who are experiencing the same or very similar to you”: Men’s experiences of using mental health support groups. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), 2383–2391. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13788
Yang, J. (2025, October 26). Why many men struggle to maintain deep male friendships later in life. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-many-men-struggle-to-maintain-deep-male-friendships-later-in-life