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. The Small Group Format runs for 60-minutes during the workday.
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
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.
The Guys is offered in a small-group format, running online via Zoom for 8 weeks for men in Alberta.
Daytime Small Group Format
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Session length: 60 minutes
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Time: 12:00–1:00 p.m.
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Group size: Minimum 4 participants / Maximum 5 participants
Each session follows the same structure:
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15 minutes — facilitated opening and check-ins
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40 minutes — guided whole-group conversation
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5 minutes — facilitated closing, reflection, and looking ahead
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Small Group Format
The cost of the full 8-week daytime small-group format is $1,250.Joining the Guys Waitlist for either format is free. If you decide to join once enrollment opens and the group is a good fit, we will send you the next steps.
Participants receive receipts that may be submitted to extended health benefit plans for reimbursement, depending on the plan.
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.
What we work on together
More about The Guys: Men's Mental Health Support Group
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.
The Guys is offered in a small group format because the work is personal, relational, and process-oriented. A smaller group gives each man more room to participate, reflect, and connect without the group becoming too large or impersonal.
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The goal is not to pack the room. The goal is to create a steady, respectful space where men can talk honestly, listen to other men, notice their own patterns, and work through real-life stress, conflict, shame, shutdown, resentment, and relationship strain.
A smaller format also allows the facilitator to hold the group more closely, track what is happening in the room, and support meaningful conversation without forcing anyone into disclosure. It keeps the group focused, contained, and useful.
Small Group Format
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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: 60 minutes weekly
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Time: Usually Wednesday from 12:00–1:00 p.m.
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Cost: $1,250 for the full 8-week program
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Group size: Maximum 5 participants / minimum 4 participants
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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.
The group format has a clear structure, so you know what to expect:
Small Group Format
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Session length: 60 minutes
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15 minutes — facilitated opening and check-ins
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40 minutes — guided whole-group conversation
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5 minutes — facilitated closing, reflection, and looking ahead
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. Men who participate in the group experience can continue of with individual therapy often with the same facilitator. 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.
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 SMALL GROUP FORMAT 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.
It's hard to say when a group start date will be as it depends on the number of participants registered.
If you’re curious, on the fence, or ready — joining the free waitlist and finding out if you're eligible to participate is the best option.
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.
