What is The Guys?
The Guys is an 8-week psychologist-led men’s mental health group. Designed to create support for men through honest conversation, meaningful connection and personal growth.
The Guys is a place for you to speak honestly, listen actively, and stay present with what’s actually going in your life with men that share that same journey.
From stress, to relationship challenges, career, breakups, separation and divorce, The Guys is a support group for men through all walks of life.
You will meet with the same group of "guys" each time to support the opportunity to create genuine connections and build strong, healthy relationships.
No pressure, no lectures and no judgment.
If you’re even reading this page, there’s probably a part of you that knows something’s missing.
Not necessarily a crisis. Not “everything’s falling apart.” More like you’re carrying a lot, and there aren’t many places where you can actually talk about it with other men.
Most guys don’t wake up thinking, “I should find a men’s issues support group in Calgary” They end up here because they feel stressed, irritable, burned out, shut down, or just alone in ways they don’t always have words for. Sometimes it’s a suggestion from a family member or a partner who notices first and says, “Hmm. Maybe check this out.”
If that’s you, that’s okay. You don’t have to be fully convinced to keep reading.
Why this men's support group exists
A lot of men want deeper connections and real male friendships, but very few know where that’s supposed to happen, especially as adults. Thoughts like "I have no friends I can talk to about this." are very common in adulthood and nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. Making friends as an adult can be hard.
Most spaces don’t really support it. Conversations stay surface-level. Banter is fine. But anything more real can feel awkward or out of place. The Guys was created to fill that gap for men in Calgary and across Alberta: a consistent, psychologist-facilitated men’s mental health group where real conversation with other men is normal, supported, and held in a way that actually works.
What exactly is a men's support group?
Well first, we'll tell you what it's not.
It's not an opportunity to label you or give you a diagnosis.
It’s not about fixing each other.
It’s not a lecture or a needing a 'shrink'.
And it’s not about being vulnerable on demand.
It’s a structured, predictable space where men across Alberta can meet with the same group weekly and find support for sharing stories, challenges or just holding space without needing to have the right thing to say.
What do we even talk about in a Men's Mental Health support group?
Typically, our conversations tend to move beyond sports, work, traffic, politics and the news, and into how your week really went, what's been sitting with you, what's coming up at home, and how things are actually landing in your relationships. It's not a place where you have to air your deepest, darkest secrets, and it's not group therapy, but it is therapeutic.
There’s room for humour here. There’s room to keep things light. And there’s room to slow things down when something real shows up. Your partner, friends, and family might notice a difference in you, too, as you become more connected to yourself.
Derrick Shirley
Registered Psychologist
What we work on together
Mohamed Osman-Abdallah
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Over the eight weeks,
the intention isn’t to push you into anything.
It’s to give you enough structure and safety to:
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talk more openly, without being put on the spot
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understand emotional and relational patterns that keep showing up
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stay connected instead of shutting down or pulling away
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feel less isolated or alone
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build trust gradually, through consistency
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develop friendships that can continue outside the group, if that’s something you want
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Depth isn’t forced here. It tends to happen because the space feels predictable and safe.
More about The Guys: Men's Mental Health Support Group
The Guys runs for 8 weeks, meeting once a week for 90 minutes, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Each session follows the same structure, so you know what to expect:
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15 minutes – facilitated opening and settling in
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60 minutes – member-to-member conversation in breakout groups of 3-5 men
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15 minutes – facilitated closing, reflection, and looking ahead
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MMH Groups are varying based on group size, group content,
We're so glad you asked.
To register for this mensmentalhealth.ca men's support group, sign up using The Guys Waitlist.
If you're eligible to join The Guys, you'll receive an email prompting you to create an account on our Jane platform. Once you've completed the intake form on Jane, keep an eye on your email. We'll let you know when enrollment begins.
Beyond the eight weeks
One of the things that makes The Guys different is that it’s not meant to end at week eight. Men who participate are invited to optional MensMentalHealth.ca in-person events throughout the year, such as:
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casual guys’ nights
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hikes or breakfast meet-ups
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workshops and guest-speaker events
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retreats (local and destination-based)
Some men come for one cycle and move on. Others stay connected longer term. Both are valid. The idea is simple: connection doesn’t have to stop just because the formal group does.
If you'd like more information mensmentalheatlh.ca, men's support groups, or to explore our one-on-one counselling and mental health support options for men in Alberta, start by joining the waitlist and selecting the call back option. One of our MMH team members will give you a call.
The Guys: Men's Mental Health Group
Spring 2026*
Limited spots available
*Open to men located in Alberta.
ready to become one of The Guys?
join the waitlist
frequently asked questions
The Guys is a psychologist-facilitated group experience. While it can be therapeutic, it differs from group and individual therapy as sessions with The Guys do not involve diagnosis or treatment planning. The focus is on conversation, connection, and relationship-building.
If you are interested in one-on-one counselling for men, click here to book a consultation* with one of our licensed clinicians.
*Our men's therapists are currently accepting in-person clients in the Calgary area. Virtual therapy options are available for men Alberta-wide.
The group is for men in Alberta who are looking for:
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more meaningful connections and friendships with other men
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a structured space to speak honestly
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practical tools to improve communication in relationships
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an opportunity to feel less isolated or lonely
Please note that all participants should be able to take part in group discussions and commit to the full eight weeks.
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Ideally, yes. Consistent attendance builds a consistent connection.
All participants of The Guys are asked to commit to all eight sessions to support trust and continuity. Occasional absences due to illness or unavoidable circumstances are understood. We appreciate as much advance notice before missed group meetings as possible.
Each session follows a consistent structure:
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a facilitated opening
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extended conversation time (as a full group or in smaller peer groups, depending on size)
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a facilitated closing
Topics focus on communication, relationships, emotional patterns, and shared life experiences.
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Participants agree to keep what is shared in the group confidential. While confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in a group setting, clear expectations are established to support privacy and respect.
Most often, yes. The group is facilitated by a registered member of the College of Alberta Psychologists. Receipts are provided and may be submitted to extended health benefit plans. Coverage depends on individual insurance policies.
Yes. Many men participate in the group alongside individual therapy. However, please note that men's support groups are not intended to replace individual treatment, but it can complement it.
If you are interested in individual therapy for men, visit our booking site to book a consultation session with one of our male therapists.
No. Groups are closed once they begin. New participants join future cycles.
We are anticipating our next group will begin in late Spring 2026. There are limited spots available, so be sure to join the waitlist to ensure your eligibility and secure your spot for the upcoming group.
