Baltimore Men’s Counseling in the Press
Press & Media
Baltimore Style explored how men experience depression differently and how stigma is slowly declining across generations. Psychotherapist Aaron Herman of Baltimore Men’s Counseling explains that many men don’t show depression as sadness — it appears as overworking, substance use, or a constant chase for achievement. He describes it as, “I’m here, but I should be there,” a mindset that fuels shame and burnout.
Herman also notes that life transitions — retirement, career shifts, changing roles at home — often leave men isolated and unsure who they are without performance or productivity. His work focuses on helping men build real connection, redefine success, and seek support without apology.
In the “Open Book: Troubled Teen Industry” episode of Her Best Interest, Sydney Finfer , a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor based in Baltimore , shares her deeply personal journey as a survivor of the troubled-teen industry. Rather than the help she was promised, Finfer endured a traumatic rescue in the night, followed by time in a so-called therapeutic boarding school , experiences she says caused lasting harm.
With courageous honesty and justified anger, she lifts the veil on a largely hidden system that preyed on vulnerable youth. Through her story she offers solidarity to other survivors, reminding them: “I see you. I hear you. You are valid.”
Sydney’s main message is that this industry isn’t about healing, and until we listen to stories like hers, it remains dangerously invisible.
In this interview, Aaron Herman examines how men often carry emotional pain in ways that go unnoticed. Instead of expressing sadness, many bury themselves in work, push harder, or self-medicate — all while insisting they’re “fine.” Herman calls out how cultural conditioning teaches men to suppress discomfort, solve problems alone, and treat vulnerability as a liability.
He also discusses what happens when the scaffolding of identity collapses — a job loss, career transition, retirement, or a major relationship shift. When a man’s value is tied to performance or output, those moments can feel like free-fall.
Herman’s core message: men don’t need to earn the right to get support. Therapy isn’t a last resort — it’s a way to build a healthier life before everything breaks.
