South Carolina lawmaker shares how therapy changed his life

COLUMBIA, S.C. – November was Men’s Health Month, which highlights not only physical well-being but also mental health — an area many men struggle to talk about or seek help for.

South Carolina Rep. Hamilton Grant of District 79 says therapy didn’t just help him manage stress. It reshaped how he leads, resolves conflict and communicates with those closest to him.

Now, he’s sharing his story to encourage more men to consider counseling as a tool for wellness, not weakness.

Grant says his mental health journey began with challenges in his professional relationship with his father, whom he also works with.

“There was friction we just couldn’t work through on our own,” Grant said. “Therapy helped us see what we couldn’t see — and it really enhanced our relationship.”

He said one of the biggest lessons he learned is understanding the difference between emotions and facts.

“We’re all entitled to our feelings, but that doesn’t make them factual,” he said. “Once you understand that, you can process emotions and have real conversations that lead to healing.”

Dr. Chad Middleton, a licensed therapist and founder of Vision Counseling, has worked with men for more than 20 years. He says many men grow up being taught to suppress emotion, which often leads to unresolved stress.

“As children, boys are told not to cry,” Middleton said. “So, as men, we don’t know how to express feelings. My sessions, I call them ‘throw up sessions,’ because until you get it out, you can’t start healing.”

Grant said therapy helped him recognize how emotional stress can quickly turn into physical consequences.

“When men don’t feel appreciated, we shut down,” he said. “That stress builds up — and it can turn from mental health to physical health.”

Both Grant and Middleton say their mission now is improving access to counseling by making mental health care more affordable and accessible to South Carolinians.

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