What is The Guys?
The Guys is a structured, process-oriented, therapeutic men's mental health support group. Designed to provide community for men through honest conversation, meaningful connection and personal growth.
The Guys is a place for you to connect with other men to speak honestly, listen actively, and stay present with what’s actually going in your life.
From stress, to relationship challenges, career, breakups, separation and divorce, The Guys is a therapeutic 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 need for masks.
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” and "do therapy". They come because they feel stressed, irritable, angry, 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 therapeutic men's support group exists
A lot of men want deeper conversations with other men and real connection, 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 and forming bonds 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, therapeutic 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 therapeutic 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 drop-in group, lecture, class, or crisis service.
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.
And it’s not about being vulnerable on demand.
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. You don't have to talk or share deeply right away. You're encouraged to participate, but never forced. Many men take a bit of time to get comfortable, and that's normal.
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
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
Depth isn’t forced here; we just leave the door open for it. It tends to happen because the space feels predictable and safe.
What we work on together
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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The cost for the full 8-week program is $495. Joining the Waitlist for the next cycle is free. If you decide you still want to join once we have enough participants – we need SIX guys to start – then we’ll invoice you. Participants receive a receipt, which may be submitted to extended health benefit plans for reimbursement.
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. Any man involved in any of our MMH programming will be 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 can come for one cycle and move on. Others can choose to 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 therapeutic 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.
ready to become one of The Guys?
The Guys: Men's Mental Health Group
Spring 2026*
Limited spots available
*Open to men located in Alberta.
join the waitlist
frequently asked questions
The Guys is a psychologist-led men's therapeutic support group using a process-oriented group format.
It's structured, conversational, and focussed on what's actually happening in your life - stress, relationships, anger/shutdown, loneliness, and life pressure - without forcing you to "perform" or share deeply right away.
It is both in the sense that it is therapeutic support in a psychologist-led group format.
A simple way to think about it: it is a therapeutic support group for men, using a process-oriented group therapy approach. It focuses on conversation, connection, and relational patterns rather than diagnosis-focused treatment within the group itself.
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.
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Location: Online using Zoom (for men in Alberta)
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Length: 8 weeks
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Session length: 90 minutes weekly
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Cost: $880 for the full 8-week program
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Receipts: Provided for possible insurance reimbursement (coverage depends on your plan)
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Eligibility: Intake required before enrollment
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Includes a bonus weekly support video + mini journalling program between sessions.
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Men commonly join to work through experiences of stress and burnout, relationship conflict / communication, separation, divorce, or co-parenting pressure; anger, irritability, or emotional shutdown, loneliness and isolation, work pressure / feeling stuck or disconnected, life transitions (fatherhood, loss, identity shifts).
Some men come in with a clear goal. Others just know something feels “off.” Both are welcome.
Each 90-minute session has a clear structure so you know what to expect:
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15 minutes — facilitated opening, topic framing, and check-in
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60 minutes — guided conversation (whole group)
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15 minutes — closing reflections, key takeaways, and next steps
The structure keeps things focused while still leaving room for real conversation.
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Yes. Alongside the live group, you’ll get access to a bonus weekly video + journalling prompt to help you keep momentum between sessions. These are pulled from our MensMentalHealth.ca's, 30-Day Journalling Challenge and we've selected specific videos that best complement the work you're doing in the group. Each video is usually 5–7 minutes, followed by about 15 minutes of writing (so plan for ~20 minutes total). It’s a value-add, which means it's optional (not “homework”). It's a simple way to stay grounded, reflect, and show up to the weekly session with more clarity.
The topics are practical and straight to the point — things like calming your nervous system, getting unstuck in your head, untangling stress and anger, making sense of what you’re feeling, and putting words to what you actually need.
The group is for men in Alberta who are looking for:
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more meaningful connections and conversations with other men
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an open confidential group setting
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conversations with other men who are willing to listen, reflect, and engage respectfully
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support around stress, relationships, anger, burnout, isolation, or emotional shutdown
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predictable and regular connection over 8-weeks
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practical tools to improve communication in relationships
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an opportunity to feel less isolated or lonely
You do not need a diagnosis to join. You also don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.
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The Guys may be a good fit if you’re looking for a structured, supportive space to work on things like stress, anger, shutdown, relationship struggles, loneliness, or life pressure with other men.
We consider your commitment and readiness to:
• participate respectfully in a group setting
• maintain confidentiality
• engage in a steady, weekly process
• reflect on your own experience and hear others
• benefit from group support at your current level of stability
This group is not a crisis service or a fit for men who currently need more intensive or higher-risk support. The intake form and screening call help us decide whether this group is the right next step for you.
Confidentiality is a core part of the group and is discussed clearly during onboarding. All group members are expected to respect the privacy of others.
As with any clinical service, there are limits to confidentiality (for example, where required by law or professional ethics), and those are reviewed with you in the consent process.
Yes. Many men participate in the group experience alongside individual therapy. However, participating in The Guys, is not intended to replace individual therapy treatment, 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.
Every group is different, but in general, men might notice:
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feeling less alone
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being less reactive in conflict
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having an easier time naming what’s going on internally
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more awareness of stress/anger/shutdown patterns
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better communication with a partner, family member, or friend
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feeling more grounded, clear, and connected overall.
Sometimes the biggest shift is simple: you stop feeling like you have to carry it all by yourself.
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The Guys is a structured group therapy program facilitated by a Registered Psychologist or Registered Provisional Psychologist.
Most extended health benefit plans cover group psychological services, but coverage depends entirely on your individual plan.
We do not bill insurance directly.
You will receive a receipt after each session that includes:
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Date of service
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Duration
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Fee charged
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Psychologist’s name and registration number
You can submit these receipts to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
We recommend contacting your insurer before the program begins to confirm:
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That group psychological services are covered
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Your annual maximum
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Your reimbursement percentage
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No. To keep group cohesion and depth of connection, we don't allow more members to join once a group cycle has started. New members are put on the waitlist for the next cycle.
To secure your spot in the next cycle, start by Joining the waitlist, on this page.
From there, you'll be directed to "Jane" (our online booking platform) to complete the group waitlist sign-up.
Next, you'll be asked to complete the intake form. Once we receive your intake form, one of our facilitators will reach out to you to book your screening call. If the group is a good fit for you at this time, we will confirm via email and invite you to join the next cycle.
Once we have enough men to run the next group cycle, we will send you a second email with the next steps and registration details.
We anticipate our next group will begin late Spring 2026. If you’re curious, on the fence, or ready — join the waitlist and we’ll walk you through the next steps.
As there are limited spots available, we encourage early sign up to begin the intake process and secure your spot for the next group.
You can always change your mind before payment if the next group cycle doesn't fit your schedule, if you're not ready, or if The Guys is not for you.
