What problems do most men come to counselling for?

Most men seek therapy for anxiety, stress, burnout, relationship challenges, intrusive thoughts, anger or irritability, and feeling overwhelmed or stuck. Counselling helps men get clarity, tools, and direction when they feel overloaded or disconnected.

How do I know if I actually need counselling?

If your stress, anxiety, or emotional struggles have lasted longer than four weeks, are affecting your sleep, your relationships, or your work, counselling can help. You don’t need to hit a breaking point — early support leads to faster and more effective results.

Is men’s counselling different from regular counselling?

Yes. Men’s counselling focuses on direct guidance, practical strategies, and understanding how men uniquely experience stress, pressure, identity, and emotional expression. It is tailored to the way men process change and communicate.

How long does counselling usually take?

Most men experience meaningful change within 4 to 8 sessions. More complex issues such as trauma, OCD, or long-term patterns may require longer support. The first session always results in a clear plan and direction.

How does online counselling compare to in-person sessions?

Online counselling is equally effective and often preferred by men. It offers privacy, convenience, flexibility, and eliminates commuting. Many men find they open up more easily online.

What should I expect in my first therapy session?

Your first session focuses on what you’re dealing with, how it’s affecting you, and what specific outcomes you want. Together we build a clear plan for the next sessions. It’s a straightforward, pressure-free conversation.

How much does counselling cost in Vancouver?

Most Registered Clinical Counsellors in Vancouver charge between $150 and $180 per session. Gibson Mental Health’s rates fall within this standard range and are covered by most extended health plans.

Do you offer counselling for fathers or new dads?

Yes. Many men seek therapy during the transition into fatherhood due to fatigue, relationship strain, identity shifts, stress, and navigating new responsibilities. This is a very common and highly treatable stage of life.

Do benefits cover men’s counselling?

Most extended health insurance plans in British Columbia cover sessions with Registered Clinical Counsellors. This includes plans from Pacific Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife, and Green Shield.

How do I start counselling?

You can book your first session directly or request a free 15-minute intro call. Most men start with one session to gain clarity, understand the plan, and decide the best path forward.

Anxiety Counselling - Gibson Mental Health

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01.

What to Expect

All of the counsellors on our team support clients who struggle with Anxiety. You can expect a calm, well regulated counsellor who will provide a safe and welcoming place to start to face your anxiety. From the first session, you can expect a clear thought out process focused on reducing symptoms, building coping skills, and helping you move toward the parts of life anxiety has been interrupting. If you are looking for anxiety counselling in Vancouver, scroll to the bottom of the page to pick a counsellor that suits you.

Free intro session

02.

Clinical Approach

Our team members use a variety of anxiety treatments to help understand and manage symptoms. Overall, we help people manage anxious and intrusive thoughts. Teach nervous system regulation techniques to improve body based symptoms like panic attacks, and provide a safe space to sort through the emotional overwhelm people often feel with anxiety. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is our most common treatment approach to anxiety, as it is highly effective in helping clients understand their thoughts, emotions, and bodily responses to anxiety triggers. We also commonly turn to Prolonged Exposure Therapy to build resilience and break down avoidance patterns. Lastly, we teach Somatic Techniques to help people feel safe in their body long term.

Free intro session

03.

Expected Outcomes

Anxiety is a very treatable mental health concern. People often see improvements after 8-12 sessions of anxiety therapy. Our goal is to empower you with the tools and education to understand and manage your anxiety symptoms indefinitely. Other benefits of counselling for anxiety may inslude better emotional regulation, improved confidence and healthier relationships.

Free intro session

Definition of Anxiety

Simply put, Anxiety is the mind and body’s threat-response system in a heightened state. In manageable amounts, anxiety helps us prepare, focus, and respond to real danger. It becomes a problem when fear, worry, or physical tension feels excessive, difficult to control, or starts interfering with daily life. Anxiety can show as persistent worry, panic, social fear, perfectionism, and avoidance. It can impact quality of life with racing thoughts, muscle tension, restlessness, sleep problems, or difficulty concentrating. Anxiety is neither a weakness or an overreaction. Many people with anxiety are highly capable and thoughtful, but feel stuck in a cycle of overthinking, scanning for danger, and trying to prevent things from going wrong.

05 Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms can look different from person to person, but they often include a mix of physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural patterns. Physically, anxiety may show up as a racing heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, stomach discomfort, sweating, trembling, dizziness, muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, or trouble sleeping. Mentally, you may notice excessive worry, racing thoughts, worst-case-scenario thinking, difficulty concentrating, fear of losing control, or feeling unable to relax. Behaviourally, anxiety often leads to avoidance, procrastination, reassurance-seeking, compulsive checking, people-pleasing, over-preparing, or withdrawing from situations that feel uncomfortable. Some people experience panic attacks, while others live with a constant underlying sense of dread or tension. Anxiety can also make it harder to be present, make decisions, trust yourself, or enjoy things that used to feel easy. Anxiety becomes a concern when these symptoms are persistent, distressing, hard to control, or affecting school, work, relationships, health, or day-to-day functioning.

06 Signs you may be Struggling with Anxiety

You may be struggling with anxiety if your mind often feels like it is working overtime, even when nothing is immediately wrong. Common signs include constant worrying, avoiding situations, feeling tense or restless, difficulty sleeping, panic sensations, overthinking conversations, needing reassurance, or feeling unable to relax. Many people also become frustrated with themselves because they logically “know” something is safe but still feel anxious anyways. If anxiety is limiting your choices, affecting relationships, lowering your confidence, or making daily life feel smaller, counselling may help.

07 Related Issues to Anxiety

People who struggle with anxiety may also experience depression, OCD, trauma, panic attacks, social anxiety, perfectionism, sleep problems, substance use concerns, ADHD, low self-esteem, relationship stress, burnout, and chronic stress. For more information on these related concerns, visit the respective Service Pages below.

08 Resources for Anxiety

Helpful anxiety resources include Here to Help BC, CAMH, MindShift CBT, your family doctor, and local counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. If you are unsure whether anxiety counselling is the right fit, booking a free consultation can be a helpful first step. Together, we can explore what you are experiencing and what kind of support may be most useful.

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counsellors

specializing counsellors

Rachelle Sayers

RCC

Miguel Garay

Student Counsellor

Chris Marks-Worling

Counsellor

Ben Malt

Head of Clinical Operations / RCC

Cameron Gibson

Founder / RCC

get started

take the first steps today.

Connect with a therapist in Vancouver who understands your needs and take the first step toward meaningful change today.

Free intro session

Identity Counselling

Identity counselling gives you space to explore who you are, who you have been, and who you are becoming. You may be navigating a life transition, grieving a former version of yourself, questioning your direction, or trying to build an identity that feels more honest and grounded. In sessions, you can expect a thoughtful, supportive process focused on reflection, clarity, meaning, and practical change. We help you make sense of what feels uncertain and begin shaping a life that feels more aligned.

Relationship Counselling

Relationship counselling offers a supportive space to better understand the patterns, conflicts, and emotional needs shaping your relationships. Whether you are attending individually, as a couple, or with family members, our counsellors help you explore what feels stuck and what you want to change. Sessions are compassionate and practical, with room for honesty, repair, and new ways of relating. Together, we can work toward stronger communication, clearer boundaries, and deeper more meaningful connection.

Coaching

Coaching is designed for people who are stable enough to move beyond symptom management and into focused personal growth. You might be functioning well, but still feel like there is another level of clarity, confidence, leadership, health, performance, or purpose available to you. In coaching, you can expect a structured, goal-focused process with practical takeaways, honest reflection, and accountability. We help you identify what matters, what is getting in the way, and what needs to happen next.

ADHD Counselling

ADHD is manageable, and you do not have to navigate it alone. We have a selection of counsellors right here in Vancovuer that can support you from first diagnosis through to longer-term symptom management. You can expect a non-judgemental, practical, and creative approach that helps you better understand your ADHD, reduce shame, and build applicable strategies for real life.

Low Cost Counselling

Low cost counselling is here for people who want support but are worried about the cost of therapy. You can expect a respectful, straightforward process where affordability is taken seriously. We offer low cost and sliding scale options, and we do not ask you to prove your financial situation. If money is the main thing stopping you from starting counselling, let us know. We will do what we can to help make therapy accessible.

High Performance Counselling

Our team have had the privilege of working with olympians and professional athletes, senior level executives and individuals with ambitious goals. High performance is a theme around our office personally, so you can expect a high level of attention and detail. You can expect the journey to begin with an assessment process where we collaborate to understand the area of focus and your problems with performance. A customized treatment process is then developed to target clinical work on your specific area of interest for improving performance. The experience is goal focused, measurable, and outcome driven.

OCD Counselling

OCD is an often debilitating and life consuming but treatable mental health concern. You do not need to try and cope with OCD alone. You can expect our OCD counsellors to be compassionate in their approach to working with clients, while providing a structured and methodical treatment modality. The counselling treatment for OCD is quite specific and personalized.

Trauma & PTSD Counselling

Trauma therapy begins with safety, trust, and choice. Our counsellors offer a steady, compassionate space where you can move at a pace that feels manageable. Whether you are struggling with PTSD, childhood trauma, relationship trauma, or distressing life experiences, counselling can help you feel less alone and more supported. Sessions focus on understanding how trauma may be affecting your body, emotions, relationships, and sense of self, while building skills that help you feel more grounded and in control.

Depression Counselling

Depression can make life feel heavy and difficult to navigate. Our counsellors offer a steady, compassionate space to talk through what has been happening and begin making sense of it. Whether you are experiencing diagnosed depression, grief, burnout, low mood, or situational depressive symptoms, counselling can help you feel less alone and more supported. Sessions move at a pace that fits your capacity, while gently helping you reconnect with stability, meaning, and hope. We offer depression counselling in Vancouver for anyone looking for in-person support, or virtually if you are anywhere else in BC. One in four people struggle with depression at some point in their lives, and whether you have a diagnosis of depression or are struggling with situational depressive symptoms, we are here to help.

Anxiety Counselling

Addiction Counselling

Addiction can carry a lot of shame, secrecy, and self-blame. Our counsellors strive to talk to you honestly about the patterns that feel difficult to control, whether they involve substances, gambling, gaming, pornography, sex, spending, internet use, or other compulsive behaviours. Whether your goal is abstinence, moderation, harm reduction, or simply understanding what is happening, our team will work to help you meet your goals without judgement.

Men's Counselling

Research has shown on average it takes men six years to reach out for help regarding a mental health concern. We are glad you're here! Often men don't reach out or continue in counselling because the process isn't designed for them. We have taken that problem head on - our counsellors use a direct, supportive approach that focuses on clarity, tools, and momentum. Sessions are designed to help you understand what is happening, strengthen coping skills, add tools to help you function better, and take meaningful steps forward.