Get to know the minds behind Mankind—
a team of dedicated professionals committed to supporting men’s mental health. Our therapists and wellness experts bring diverse experience and specialized approaches to help men navigate life’s challenges. We understand that every journey is unique, which is why we offer tailored support to meet your needs.
Meet The Minds Behind Mankind
Creator & Mental Health Advocate
Rylee Marentette
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Hi, I’m Rylee, and I created this clinic because I’ve seen firsthand how tough it can be for men to carry everything in silence. The pressure to have it all together. The weight of providing, performing, and protecting—while also trying to keep what's really going on inside from spilling over. I’ve watched friends, family members, and countless men try to push through pain, burnout, and emotional struggles, believing they had to handle it all alone. Believing asking for help was a sign of weakness.But it’s not.
I’m not a therapist, but I’ve lived through enough of this myself and witnessed enough quiet suffering to know that mental health support for men has often been missing something. A space where you can show up exactly as you are—without fear of judgment or feeling misunderstood.
We've all heard the same messages: "Man up," "Tough it out," "Don’t talk about it." And for a long time, many of us believed them. We buried the stress, the anger, the exhaustion, the anxiety, and the shame, thinking that’s just part of being a man. But strength isn't about suffering in silence—it’s about knowing when to reach out, to let go, and to heal. And you deserve so much more than just surviving.
That’s why I started this clinic: to help men not just cope, but thrive. To create a space that feels real, approachable, and safe. A space where you don’t have to explain why you're tired, disconnected, or not feeling like yourself. We get it, because we’ve built this clinic for you.
I’ve brought together a team of licensed, compassionate professionals who truly understand the unique challenges men face—whether it’s about identity, fatherhood, masculinity, relationships, work, or just figuring out how to breathe again. We do things a little differently here. No clinical jargon, no one-size-fits-all advice. Just real conversations with people who are trained to help and genuinely care.
Emily Lafeber
Clinical Director, RP, CCC
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Hi, I’m Emily.
As the Clinical Director of Mankind, my work is deeply rooted in both professional expertise as a psychotherapist and personal experience. I’ve long been drawn to understanding how people make sense of their inner world—how they cope, how they heal, and how they grow. But it wasn’t until my own health challenges began—when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease—that my understanding of pain, resilience, and emotional survival deepened.
Living with a chronic illness changed how I move through the world, and more importantly, how I show up in this work. It taught me to listen beyond words, to hold space without judgment, and to meet others—especially men who have often been told to tough it out—with genuine empathy and respect. I know what it’s like to carry something invisible, to feel misunderstood, and to navigate systems that aren’t equipped to support my specific needs.
These experiences shape the culture and clinical vision of our clinic. We’re building a space where men can show up as they are, without shame. A place where mental health support isn’t about “fixing what's broken," but rather reconnecting to what’s been buried—strength, agency, and self-understanding.
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Chronic Illness/Pain, Autoimmune Disease, Connective Tissue Disorders (IBD - Crohn’s & Colitis, IBS and other disorders of the gut-brain interaction, Celiac disease, Endometriosis, PCOS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Arteriovenous Malformations and more)
Psychoeducation and Restoration of Gut-Brain Axis
Advocacy Skill Building
Breathing Assessments and Breathwork Techniques
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Nervous System Regulation
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Integrative Healing Methods (Holistic Mind-Body Approaches)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Somatic Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Physiological and Neurobiological Focused Practices
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
Trauma-Informed Interventions
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Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
Yorkville UniversityBachelor of Arts, Honours in Psychology and Family/Social Relations
University of WindsorAccelerated Diploma in Child and Youth Care
St. Clair College
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Registered Psychotherapist
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)Certified Integrative Mental Health Provider
Youssef Shehata
Registered Psychotherapist (Q)
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Hello, I’m Youssef,
As a Psychotherapist, I support men in navigating life’s challenges with clarity, honesty, and knowledge, whether it’s anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, or the pressure to keep everything together.
In today’s world, men are often expected to push through, stay composed, and keep silent about what’s happening beneath the surface. Yet research shows that men are nearly twice as likely as women to avoid seeking help for mental health concerns, leaving many to struggle in silence. Therapy with me is a space to set those pressures down to focus not on what’s expected, but on what’s real.
I take a steady, structured approach to therapy, grounded in evidence-based methods like CBT, DBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, psychoanalytic theory, and trauma-informed care. I work with individuals, couples, and families, as well as men recovering from high-impact events.
Most of the men I work with aren’t just looking for coping tools, they’re looking for growth. They want to be better partners, better fathers, better leaders. They want clarity, emotional stability, and peace of mind. My role is to help guide that process with honesty, respect, and integrity.
Whether you’re addressing mental health, strengthening relationships, or seeking clarity in life’s transitions, my role is to provide structured, principled guidance grounded in respect and integrity.
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Fatherhood & Parenting
Sexual Health & Performance Anxiety
Depression
Anxiety
Loneliness and Social Isolation
Trauma & PTSD
Divorce & Breakups
ADHD
Pornography & Sex Addiction
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Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Relational Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy
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Master of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
Wilfrid Laurier UniversityBachelor of Science, Honours Science
Wilfrid Laurier University
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Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) — College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
Certified Couples Therapist — International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
Training and Certification in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy
Registered Psychotherapist
Daniel Burkett
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I work with men who are carrying more than they let on. For some, it’s substance use that’s become harder to control—drinking or using to manage stress, unwind, or escape. For others, it’s a lack of motivation, short tempers, or growing distance in their relationships. Many are successful on the outside—fathers, professionals, providers—but inside, they feel disconnected, burned out, or stuck in patterns that no longer work.
Therapy offers a chance to pause and uncover what’s really happening beneath the surface. Whether you’re managing the challenges of fatherhood, handling work stress, or working to heal the strain that substance use or emotional distance has put on your relationships, we’ll take the time to understand it all—and create a new way forward.
I come to this work not just with professional experience, but with personal insight. I’ve been the one searching for help, trying to make sense of things that felt too heavy to carry alone. That experience informs how I show up: grounded, compassionate, and consistently authentic. With over 10 years in the mental health and addiction field, I use a person-centered approach informed by CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care to support lasting, meaningful change.
This isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about understanding what’s underneath, making meaningful changes, and showing up more fully in your life, your work, and your relationships.
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Anxiety
Anger Management
Relationship Issues
Work Stress/Burnout
Depression
Grief and Loss
Fatherhood/Parenting
Sex Addiction
First Responders
Substance use and Addiction
Veterans & Military
Loneliness and Social Isolation
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Person-centered therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Narrative Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy
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Master of Arts in Addiction and Co-Occuring Disorder Counselling
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate SchoolBachelor of Arts in Psychology
Toronto Metropolitan University
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Registered Psychotherapist
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
Registered Psychotherapist (Q)
Fábio Rancevas
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As a bilingual psychotherapist fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, I help men navigate the emotional complexities of modern life — from anxiety and identity struggles to addiction and relationship challenges. My background in both economics and psychology allows me to bring a grounded, thoughtful approach to therapy, balancing insight with action.
I draw from trauma-informed frameworks such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), logotherapy, and Jungian-informed depth work to support men in building emotional awareness, resilience, and a stronger sense of meaning. I understand how hard it can be for men to open up — therapy with me is a non-judgmental space where you’re heard, challenged, and supported with compassion and clarity.
As a father of five daughters, I’m especially passionate about supporting parents and exploring how we can stay emotionally connected to the people we love — even during life’s most stressful or disconnected seasons.
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Anxiety, Overwhelm & Burnout
Addiction & Behavioural Dependencies (substance use, pornography)
Life Transitions & Identity Work
Relationship Struggles & Communication
Emotional Numbness
Anger
High Sensitivity (HSP)
Trauma & Inner Child Work
Immigrant Mental Health & Acculturation Stress
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Logotherapy & Meaning-Centered Therapy
Jungian-Informed Depth Work
Strengths-Based & Emotionally Focused Strategies
Trauma-Informed Practice
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Master’s in Counselling Psychology
Yorkville UniversityBachelor’s in Economics
FAAP University (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
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Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)Training and Certification in CPT – Cognitive Processing Therapy
We recommend checking with your workplace insurance provider, as many private health insurance plans include coverage for services like this. Depending on your specific plan, you may be eligible for up to 100% reimbursement.
