Show notes
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:
Website
Gay Fathers Worldwide
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
- 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. Every session is grounded in non-judgement, cultural sensitivity, and a deep respect for diverse gender identities and life experiences.
Beyond the counselling room, Shaun facilitates Community Couch Conversations – heartfelt group discussions for gay and queer men to connect, reflect, and be seen. He’s also the co-founder of Gay Fathers Worldwide, a thriving online support network for men who’ve had children in heterosexual relationships and are now living openly as gay. Since 2020, this community has grown to over 1,300 members across the globe – a testament to Shaun’s belief in the healing power of peer connection.
Shaun lives in Melbourne with his partner and their beautifully blended family of five children. As a cis-gay man who came out later in life, he brings a rare depth of insight into the tensions between two worlds— the life he once lived and the authentic life he now embraces. His work is guided by warmth, understanding, and the unwavering belief that everyone deserves to feel at home in themselves.