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Cogent founder Simon Peter K. Smith said he’s considered many barriers that men face in seeking support. He now has an accessible, local office but also provides virtual services, has online booking and more.

The grand opening was held last month in a newly renovated space in the heart of the junction neighbourhood.

“There’s stuff that’s holding dudes back and they have few health care options,” Smith said. “I’m excited to provide this for ���߲ݴ�ýguys.”

And he wants to reassure them that the style of therapy he uses is convenient, effective and not at all embarrassing. In fact, he said, therapy should be “edifying” or informative in a way that’s uplifting, and that’s what he strives to do.

“If I can be some sort of positive influence, even if it’s just to say, hey, there’s a place we can talk about this, and the thing you’ve got going on, we can fix, I’m happy with that.”

Smith said that men might think that most available therapists are women, and they’re not wrong.

“Men in mental health care are so fantastically under-represented,” Smith said. “We were 10 per cent of my graduate class.”

Smith does see many self-identifying women and transgender folks, as well as a few teenagers, but his practice is focused mainly on adult men who rarely go looking for support.

Smith said, due to the research he has done, he knows that about a third of his clients are brand new to therapy, another third has been bounced around to different places and the final group is referred by their significant other. But no matter how they get there, the important thing is that they do. He said some things are common concerns and very treatable.

“Mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress are a part of the big request because guys can’t always find places that will work on that,” he said.

He has also seen rather alarming trends for men that rarely get addressed and wants guys to know this is a safe space for them.

“One crushing statistic is that about one in five men have had a history of childhood sexual abuse that they have never spoken about, ever,” Smith said. “So, I do see a lot of men who are just coming to terms with sexual abuse.”

Smith said he doesn’t shy away from the connection between mental and sexual health. And he explained that mild issues can build up over time and get worse.

“That relatively minor sexual health issue that has been around for a decade is now a huge problem in your relationship because it was never dealt with,” he said.

Sometimes you have to work backwards to get to the root of the problem, but if you address things as they come up, it makes it easier.

Smith said he can help you manage your anger, substance use and pornography consumption, if you need that. He can help with trauma, grief and fear. He’s open and he’s not going to judge you.

What’s stopping men from talking about their struggles is either thinking it’s not easy to get help, or that therapy won’t help them anyways. Or, as Smith said, they just don’t want to feel like an idiot. And no one should ever have to feel that way.

“What makes me a little bit unique in terms of the mental health services available is that as a clinical psychologist, I can do the diagnostic work. I do a lot of ADHD and autism assessments for adults,” Smith said.

He said it’s not even that guys are wanting accommodation at work or any special assistance, but they want to understand themselves better.

“I think it’s encouraging to them to have a private conversation about it, then decide what they want to do,” he said.

The last thing he wants to see is more men going at life alone.

“Dudes don’t have groups of friends as much anymore. You know, people don’t play pickup, go to church or have these informal networks like they used to,” said Smith. “And if my only way of coping with this is drinking by myself and playing video games, that’s not going to help much.”

What Smith does is find solutions to problems. He said he’s not out to label someone or just medicate them needlessly. And he’s not going to charge you for parking, because he’d rather walk than pay for that, too. He just wants to help.

You can book a free 15-minute consultation now at .