Episode
Shaun Williams Knows Why Gay Men Are Exhausted and Nobody Is Talking About It
- Podcast
- 40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk.
- Published
- Apr 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2913
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rickclemons.com/40-gay-men-gay-talk/378-shaun-williams
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Summary
Gay men are burning out in silence and calling it fine. Shaun Williams, therapist, late bloomer, and co-founder of Gay Fathers Worldwide, has spent years inside that silence and knows exactly what it is costing us. After coming out in 2019 following decades of living someone else's story, Shaun built Bent Couch Counselling and a global community of over 1,300 gay fathers because the existing resources were not built for men like him. He and Rick get brutally honest about the mental load of coming out later in life, why gay men perform connection instead of feeling it, and what it actually takes to stop running and start healing. Key Takeaways: Why gay men over 40 carry a mental load that never gets named or treated How coming out later in life creates a specific kind of burnout nobody warns you about Why 61% of gay couples report feeling lonely even inside their relationships What performing connection instead of feeling it is doing to gay men's mental health How to create emotional safety at home when you never had a roadmap for it About Shaun Shaun Williams is the heart behind Bent Couch Counselling, a compassionate and inclusive mental health service launched in October 2022. Built on empathy and lived experience, Bent Couch offers a safe space for men and LGBTQ+ individuals to navigate life’s challenges with dignity and support. Shaun came out in 2019 after decades of living a different story. That personal journey—full of courage, grief, and growth— became the foundation for the work he does today. His mission is simple but powerful: to walk alongside others as they rediscover resilience, self-acceptance, and connection. At Bent Couch, Shaun supports clients facing burnout, anxiety, shame, life transitions, identity exploration, and relationship complexities. Ever…