Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Rusman.
Hi Jason, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been a counselor for about 10 years, with a particular passion for group therapy. About five years ago, I went through a divorce, and one of the things that stood out to me during that time was how little support I had from other men who were going through something similar. I realized how valuable it would have been to have a space where guys could be honest about what they were dealing with and not feel like they had to carry it alone.
That experience led me to start a small support group for men. It began very simply, just two guys meeting consistently each week for a couple of months. But it quickly became clear that the need was much broader than I initially thought.
Over time, that one group grew into multiple groups, and now there are four active groups with a fifth starting soon, with around 30 or more men participating each week. In addition to the groups, I also work with men individually in my counseling practice and hold bimonthly workshops on honest and direct communication.
At its core, Carlisle Men’s Work is about creating a space where men can show up honestly, build meaningful connections, and challenge each other to grow. It’s not about politics, background, or beliefs. It’s about helping men become more intentional, more connected, and more supportive of one another.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been completely smooth, but the challenges have been pretty straightforward. The biggest one has been getting the word out and helping men understand what this actually is. A lot of guys have never done therapy or been part of a group or anything like it, so there can be some hesitation or skepticism at first.
Part of the work has been helping men see the value of having a space where they can be honest, build real connections, and not have to carry everything on their own. That idea of community, or brotherhood, isn’t something many men have experienced in a structured way, but once they get into the room, it usually clicks very quickly.
Overall, the growth has been steady and surprisingly fast, which reinforces that there’s a real need for this.
As you know, we’re big fans of Carlisle Men’s Work LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Carlisle Men’s Work is built around a simple idea: most men don’t have a consistent space where they can be honest, challenged, and supported by other men. We’re trying to create that.
We offer weekly men’s groups, workshops, and individual counseling, all focused on helping men show up more honestly in their lives, especially in their relationships. A lot of the work centers around communication, emotional awareness, accountability, and learning how to say what’s actually true without avoiding, people-pleasing, or shutting down.
What sets it apart is that it’s not just therapy, and it’s not just a social group. It’s a consistent, in-person space where men build real relationships over time. Guys come in not knowing each other, and within a short period of time, they’re having conversations they’ve often never had with anyone before.
We also emphasize practice over theory. Whether it’s in a group or a workshop, men are actively working on how to communicate more directly, set boundaries, and handle difficult conversations in a way that builds trust rather than damages it.
What I’m most proud of is the community that’s forming. There are men showing up every week, supporting each other, holding each other accountable, and actually building friendships. It’s not surface-level. There’s a level of honesty and consistency that you don’t see in many places.
What I’d want readers to know is that this isn’t about fixing men or telling them how they should be. It’s about giving them a place to show up as they are, tell the truth, and grow alongside other men who are trying to do the same thing.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think I’ve always had a relationship with risk that’s tied to growth. Even when I was younger, I was drawn to putting myself in situations that felt uncertain or uncomfortable. I hitchhiked across the country and through Canada, moved out to Montana after college without much of a plan, tour managed a band, and backpacked around Europe. At the time, I didn’t necessarily think of it as “growth,” but looking back, that’s exactly what it was.
More recently, the risks have looked different, but they feel just as meaningful. Starting Carlisle Men’s Work was a risk. Putting myself out there publicly, talking about my divorce, and sharing more of my personal story in professional spaces is something I wouldn’t have done earlier in my career. Even things like making videos, posting online, and doing interviews like this push me outside of my comfort zone.
I don’t think of risk as something reckless. For me, it’s more about intentionally stepping into discomfort in a way that leads to increased capacity. At this point in my life, with a family and a business, it’s actually more important to keep doing that. It’s easy to settle into what’s familiar, but that’s usually where growth stops. I want my daughters to understand the value of and embrace challenge, so it’s important that I model that.
A big part of the work I do with men is encouraging that same mindset. Not always big, dramatic risks, but more often smaller, consistent ones like being more honest, setting a boundary, saying something that feels vulnerable, and standing up for yourself. Those are often the risks that matter most.
And underlying all of this is a belief I feel strongly about: men need community, support, and connection. If putting myself out there a bit more helps reinforce that message and reach the guys who need it, then it’s a risk worth taking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carlislemenswork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlislemenswork/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlislemenswork/
