Young Men's Counselling

The late teens and twenties are supposed to be a time of momentum. In practice, many young men find themselves stuck. Anxiety runs in the background, motivation drops, relationships feel difficult or absent, and there is a growing gap between what life is supposed to look like and what it actually feels like day to day.

As a therapist in Westmount, I work with young men who are dealing with that gap. Some are managing high-functioning anxiety that nobody around them sees. Others are withdrawing, spending more time online than they want to, struggling with intimacy, or quietly losing direction. These are not character flaws. They are patterns, and they respond well to structured therapy.

What Brings Young Men to Therapy

Young men rarely frame their difficulties in clinical terms. They are more likely to describe feeling stuck, disconnected, or unable to get moving than to say they are anxious or depressed. That does not make the experience any less real or any less worth addressing.

Common concerns include:

• Loneliness, social withdrawal, and difficulty forming connection
• Anxiety, self-doubt, and overthinking
• Low mood, flatness, or loss of interest
• Pornography use and compulsive online behaviour
• Relationship difficulties and avoidance of intimacy
• Anger, frustration, and emotional reactivity
• Lack of motivation, procrastination, or difficulty with direction
• Questions around identity, masculinity, and purpose
• Academic or career-related pressure and burnout

These issues tend to feed each other. Isolation deepens low mood, low mood kills motivation, lack of motivation increases self-criticism, and self-criticism drives further withdrawal. Therapy interrupts the cycle by addressing what is actually maintaining it.

How I Work With Young Men

Sessions are 50 minutes, direct, and focused on the issues you are dealing with. I am not going to ask you to sit in silence or talk about your childhood unless it is relevant. The work is practical: we identify the patterns that are keeping you stuck, and we build strategies to change them.

In the first session, we talk about what is going on, how it is affecting your life, and what you want to be different. From there, we develop a plan. Ongoing sessions focus on the specific thought patterns, behaviours, and habits that maintain your difficulties. You will learn skills for managing anxiety, regulating emotions, improving how you communicate and relate to others, and making decisions with more clarity.

Many young men have never had a conversation like this. There is no performance required, no judgment, and no expectation that you arrive with the right language for what you are experiencing. You just need to be willing to be honest about where things are at.

What to Expect

You do not need to commit to long-term therapy. There is no obligation beyond the first session. That said, meaningful change takes consistent effort, and most clients benefit from regular sessions over a period of weeks or months.

Some young men notice a shift quickly once they start applying what they learn. Others take longer, particularly when the patterns have been in place for years or when the issues are layered. We track progress together and adjust the frequency and focus as things develop.

Schedule a Free 10-Minute Phone Consultation

Professional Background

Academic qualifications and professional memberships:

• Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
• Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Learn more about my background and qualifications.

Counselling That Fits in With Your Schedule

I’m available for appointments Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, either in-person at my office in Westmount, or online for your convenience.

You don’t need a referral to make an appointment. You can contact me directly by phone, email, or book a session through the website.

If you're not quite ready to book but would like to learn more or get a sense of how I work, I offer a free 10-minute consultation by phone.

Your First Appointment

In our first session, we’ll talk through the following:

• Your main concerns and what has brought you to therapy
• How these concerns are impacting your day-to-day life and relationships
• Your expectations, goals, and hopes for the work ahead

This initial session is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of how I work and to ask any questions you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this therapy for?
Young men in their late teens and twenties who are dealing with anxiety, disconnection, relationship difficulties, compulsive behaviours, or feeling stuck or uncertain about their direction.

Is therapy confidential?
Yes. All sessions are fully confidential and conducted in a private, professional setting.

Can therapy help with loneliness and social disconnection?
Yes. Therapy helps you understand what drives withdrawal and develop practical ways to build and sustain meaningful connection.

Do you work with pornography use or compulsive online behaviour?
Yes. Counselling explores what maintains these patterns and builds healthier ways of managing stress, boredom, and emotion.

What if I am not sure whether I need therapy?
If something is consistently affecting your mood, relationships, motivation, or ability to function, it is worth exploring. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to start.

How often will we meet?
Most clients begin with weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Frequency is adjusted over time based on progress and what makes sense for your situation.

Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes. I offer both in-person sessions at my office in Westmount and secure virtual sessions.

Do you issue insurance receipts?
Yes. I provide receipts that can be submitted to your insurance provider. Confirm directly with your insurer whether counselling services from a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) are covered under your plan.

What is your cancellation policy?
I require 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling. This allows me to offer the time slot to other clients.

Schedule a Free 10-Minute Phone Consultation