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

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Emily Lafeber

Clinical Director, RP, CCC

  • I’m Emily, and my role as Clinical Director at Mankind Therapy grows out of both my experience as a psychotherapist and my commitment to changing how men access and experience emotional support. Throughout my career, I have been fascinated by how people make sense of their inner world and how they grow through challenge. As my work progressed, I saw how many men struggle quietly because they have been taught to downplay their feelings or handle everything on their own. This can make reaching out feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

    At Mankind Therapy, I have the opportunity to help remove those barriers. I shape the way our services are delivered, support our team of therapists, and make sure the space we create feels welcoming, steady, and respectful. My priority is to build an environment where men feel understood and where the support they receive is clear, accessible, and genuinely helpful.

    I oversee the development of the approaches we use, the training of our team, and the overall direction of our therapeutic work. More importantly, I work to build a culture that encourages honesty, reduces shame, and helps men reconnect with their own resilience and sense of self. My vision is for Mankind Therapy to offer more than help in difficult moments. I want it to be a place where men can grow, understand themselves more fully, and feel less alone.

    I believe men deserve a space where they can show up as they are and feel truly seen. That belief guides how I lead and how I continue shaping Mankind Therapy into a supportive, grounded, and compassionate service.

    • 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

    • 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

    • Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
      Yorkville University

    • Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Psychology and Family/Social Relations
      University of Windsor

    • Accelerated Diploma in Child and Youth Care
      St. Clair College

    • 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

  • 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.

    • Fatherhood & Parenting

    • Sexual Health & Performance Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Anxiety

    • Loneliness and Social Isolation

    • Trauma & PTSD

    • Divorce & Breakups

    • ADHD

    • Pornography & Sex Addiction

    • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

    • Relational Psychotherapy

    • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

    • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

    • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

    • Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy

    • Master of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
      Wilfrid Laurier University

    • Bachelor of Science, Honours Science
      Wilfrid Laurier University

    • 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

  • Hello, I’m Daniel!

    I work with men who are carrying more than they let on. For some, it is substance use that has become harder to control, drinking or using to manage stress, unwind, or escape. For others, it is 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 is really happening beneath the surface. Whether you are managing the challenges of fatherhood, handling work stress, or working to heal the strain that substance use or emotional distance has placed on your relationships, we will 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 have 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 is not about fixing what is broken. It is about understanding what is underneath, making meaningful changes, and showing up more fully in your life, your work, and your relationships.

    • 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

    • Person-centered therapy

    • Motivational Interviewing

    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

    • Narrative Therapy

    • Solution Focused Therapy

    • Master of Arts in Addiction and Co-Occuring Disorder Counselling
      Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School

    • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
      Toronto Metropolitan University

    • Registered Psychotherapist
      College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

    • Canadian Certified Counsellor
      Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

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.

Yes, our services are covered by insurance.

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