Sean Strickland, the former UFC middleweight champion, has a history of expressing his skepticism towards psychotherapy, especially advising men against it. Recently, he has reignited his criticism of therapy through a series of tweets. Strickland, born in California, suggested that the founding fathers of the United States would have disapproved of modern men seeking therapy. This stance comes shortly after his teammate, UFC middleweight Chris Curtis, expressed that therapy for men should be more normalized. Despite Curtis’ tweet being removed, Strickland continues to voice his opposition.
In a controversial perspective, Strickland argues that therapy is a tool used by the system to emasculate men. He went as far as to suggest that in the event of a serious crime against a family member, one should not involve the police but rather take matters into their own hands. Strickland’s tweets propose that the system’s reliance on therapy and discouragement of violence is a direct attack on masculinity.
The conversation took a turn when a user inquired if Strickland’s views on therapy extended to women. The UFC fighter, who is set to face Paulo Costa at UFC 302, responded with a remark that he couldn’t comment on women’s issues due to his lack of female anatomy. He further stated that men should opt for training at an MMA gym over therapy. Jake Shields, a former UFC fighter, chimed in, suggesting therapy was only for women and the LGBTQ+ community. Strickland agreed with Shields’ sentiment, reinforcing his controversial views on the subject.
Strickland’s personal life also reflects his stance on therapy. Having been with his girlfriend for several months, he credits her for positively impacting his life. However, when she suggested he seek therapy to address his anger and trust issues, Strickland took to Twitter to express his disapproval. He believes her advice is an attempt to weaken him, a sentiment that aligns with his public condemnation of therapy. His tweets reveal his struggles with anger, trust, and a troubled relationship with his father, which he feels are being used to push him towards therapy.
Strickland’s tweets and the ensuing discussions have sparked conversations on social media, with various individuals weighing in on his views. The debate over the role of therapy in men’s lives and societal expectations of masculinity continues, with Strickland remaining a vocal opponent of what he perceives as a system designed to undermine men’s strength.
