Frequently asked questions.

BTMB stands for Beyond The Man Box. We're a small operation — two founders, Jason and Mason, building what we wish had existed when we were younger. Jason runs facilitation and the curriculum. Mason runs the systems and tools that make the work portable.

"The Man Box" refers to the unspoken rules men get trained into — perform strength, suppress emotion, isolate, tie your worth to what you produce. Most of us never agreed to those rules. We just absorbed them. Going beyond the box means recognizing the patterns and choosing differently — without becoming someone you're not.

No, and we're upfront about that. Jason and Mason are not licensed therapists or psychologists. BTMB workshops and retreats are coaching and skill-building experiences, not clinical treatment. If you need clinical mental health care, we can suggest finding a licensed professional.

Las Vegas, Nevada. Retreats happen in venues across the western US. Workshops happen at your location, ours, or virtually.

No. Therapy is clinical work — diagnosis, treatment, processing trauma — performed by licensed practitioners. BTMB is coaching: skill-building. We teach men how to recognize their patterns and practice new responses. Many men benefit from doing both — therapy with a licensed professional, plus BTMB to build practical, in-the-moment skills.

Experiential. Practice-based. You'll work in pairs and small groups on real situations from your own life — not hypotheticals. There are short framework teachings, but most of the time is spent doing the work. Some moments feel intense. Most feel grounded. By the end, you'll have specific tools and language you can use the day after you walk out.

No. We don't center any tradition or belief system. We don't ask you to meditate, chant, or open chakras. The work is body-based and behavioral, not spiritual.

You're never forced to share anything. "Pass" is always an option, no explanation needed. That said — the men who get the most out of the work are usually the ones who choose to engage, because the practice is what builds the skill. We work hard to make the room safe enough that men feel okay choosing to engage.

Most of our work is men-only. Some workshops (especially corporate engagements) are mixed. The men-only format unlocks specific dynamics — particularly around how men perform for each other — that don't open up in mixed groups. It's not about excluding women. It's about creating a specific kind of room.

That's the most common version of the Man Box: "I'm fine, I don't really feel things much." Almost every man we work with says some version of that. The question isn't whether you "feel things." The question is whether your reactions in hard moments — at work, at home, with people you love — are landing the way you want them to. If they are: you don't need this. If they aren't: this might be the missing piece.

We don't promise outcomes like that. What we can promise: you'll leave with frameworks for understanding what's happening in those situations, and practical tools you can use to show up differently. Whether the relationship heals depends on more than just you. But your part of it can shift.

Retreats vary — typically 2-4 days, residential format. Specific dates and lengths are listed on the retreats page.

Pricing varies by event. Recent retreats have ranged from $1,500-$3,500 depending on length, venue, and what's included. The full cost (including lodging and food) is always listed transparently on the event page.

Yes — we can usually set up a payment plan for retreats. Reach out before booking and we'll work it out.

Friends are welcome (men's retreats only). Partners — most of our retreats are men-only, so partners join us at the public events or different formats. We'll occasionally run mixed-couples retreats; check the events page.

A 15-question self-assessment that helps you see your emotional intelligence patterns clearly. It takes about 5 minutes and gives you a free report immediately. Take it here →

A deeper, AI-generated analysis based on a longer 35-question version of the assessment. It includes personalized insights, identified patterns, and a 30-day suggested practice plan. More info here →

The questions are informed by emotional intelligence research and our experience working with men. They're not a clinical diagnostic — they're a self-reflection tool to help you see your patterns. We're transparent about that.

You'll get your report immediately. You'll also be added to our newsletter (you can opt out anytime). We don't sell your data. We don't spam you.

Yes. People change. Patterns shift. The assessment is free to take as many times as you want.

Pricing depends on format, audience size, and customization. Half-day workshops typically start in the low five figures. We provide a detailed quote after a discovery call.

Workshops are most effective with 6-20 participants. Larger groups (up to ~40) work for select formats. Beyond that, we'd recommend multiple cohorts or a different format.

Yes. Every engagement starts with a discovery call to understand your team's context, the outcomes you're after, and any specific scenarios you want to work through. The core frameworks stay consistent; the examples and exercises adapt.

Yes, this is something we take seriously. Our work is experiential and grounded — but it stays clearly outside clinical territory. We don't surface trauma, diagnose, or treat. We coach skills. Many of our corporate engagements work directly with HR/L&D teams to define scope and ensure the format aligns with company policies. We're happy to talk through specifics with your HR or legal team before booking.

Probably not in the workshop itself. The work isn't designed to surface emotional content publicly — it's designed to teach men to notice their own internal experience and have tools to handle it. Some men will get emotional during reflection moments, and that's okay. But this isn't a "tear-jerker" experience.

Yes. Many of our corporate engagements include mixed audiences, especially when the focus is communication, conflict resolution, or feedback skills. The "men only" framing applies most strongly to retreats, not workshops.

The frameworks (Trigger → Body → Emotion → Urge → Choice; the 4F patterns; repair models) apply universally to humans. The framing and examples are tuned for men, but mixed-audience workshops adapt naturally.

Yes, but we recommend in-person whenever possible. The practice work — paired role-plays, body-awareness exercises — lands much better when men are in the same room. For distributed teams, we can run hybrid formats or virtual versions, with adjusted expectations.

Yes. We carry standard professional liability insurance for our work. We can provide certificates on request.

Start with a 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk through your team, outcomes, and format. From there we'll send a proposal. Book a discovery call here →

We're structured. We have a real curriculum. We have measurable outcomes. We're not a talk circle, a therapy group, or a religious gathering. If you've been to "men's groups" that felt unfocused or aimless, that's not what we do.

The frameworks are accessible enough for beginners and specific enough for men with prior experience. Men who've done years of therapy, men's work, or coaching consistently tell us they got new things from BTMB workshops — usually specific tools and practice-based skills they didn't have before. That said, if you're a deeply experienced practitioner, our entry-level workshops might feel familiar. Reach out and we'll help you figure out the right format.

Generally yes — many of our participants are in recovery. We don't use substances, we don't have alcohol at events, and the work pairs naturally with recovery skills. If you have specific concerns, talk with us beforehand and we'll figure out fit.

If you're in active mental health crisis (suicidality, severe depression, untreated psychosis), please prioritize working with a licensed clinician — BTMB is not a substitute. If you're stable, in treatment, and want practical skills to add to your toolkit, this can work well. When in doubt, talk to your therapist or psychiatrist about whether BTMB is appropriate for where you are.

Disagreement is welcome. We're not asking you to adopt our worldview — we're offering frameworks that you can use, modify, or discard. Push back, ask questions, name your discomfort. That's part of the work.

No. BTMB doesn't take political positions. We don't proselytize. We don't position men as victims or as oppressors. We work with the man in front of us.

Yes. We have explicit confidentiality agreements at every event: what's shared in the room stays in the room. We hold this seriously. Participants commit to it as part of the safety container.

No. Not without explicit consent of every participant. (For corporate engagements, we may record portions for promotional or training purposes — only with full team agreement and signed releases.)

We're happy to sign NDAs. We treat client information confidentially as a matter of practice.

If a participant surfaces material that requires clinical support (acute crisis, severe trauma, mental health emergency), we'll pause, support them in the moment, and refer them to appropriate professional resources. We're trained to recognize the line and respect it.

We reserve the right to remove anyone whose behavior threatens the safety of the room. This is rare. We make expectations clear at the start of every event.

Free for the 15-question version. $40 for the premium 35-question report with AI-generated insights.

Varies by event. Listed transparently on the retreats page.

Engagement-specific. Half-day workshops start in the low five figures. Full proposal after a discovery call.

For retreats: occasionally, depending on availability. Reach out before booking and we'll see what we can do. For the assessment: the free version is genuinely free and gives you real value — start there.

For assessments: full refund if you're not satisfied with the premium report. For retreats: refunds available up to 30 days before the event; partial refunds within 30 days; no refunds within 7 days of the event (though we can usually transfer your seat). Specifics on each event page.

Online payment via Stripe for assessments and retreats. Invoiced for corporate engagements.