Healing for the outliers is more than a concept—it’s a mission. And it’s exactly what Ari Drosman, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Resurface Group, has committed his life’s work to. In this episode of What It Takes, Ari shares how his unconventional approach to mental health has created space for the misunderstood to finally be seen, supported, and healed.
🎙️ Who Is Ari Drosman?
Ari Drosman is a disruptor, deep thinker, and lifelong creative with over 20 years of experience in the mental health space. His journey began with studying English and Philosophy, but a transformational experience with a client showed him his true calling: healing for the outliers.
As the founder of Resurface Group, Ari leads a team that delivers integrated, life-based mental health and addiction treatment for individuals and families who don’t fit traditional models.
🧠 What Is Healing for the Outliers?
Ari describes outliers as individuals whose needs go unmet in conventional therapy:
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Neurodivergent people who need more flexibility
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High-achieving professionals hiding silent struggles
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Families who are the true “symptom bearers”
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Clients who can’t step away from life for treatment
These clients need something personalized, deeply relational, and rooted in real life. That’s where healing for the outliers comes in.
🌊 Resurface Group’s Life-Based Model
At Resurface Group, healing happens in real time and real environments. Ari and his team work in clients’ homes, offices, or natural spaces—integrating treatment into daily life instead of disrupting it.
How Resurface is different:
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No group therapy—100% customized, 1:1 work
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Therapy sessions happen at the dinner table, on a walk, or even in the ocean
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Schedules are built around the client’s life
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Deep relational and trauma-informed care
This radical shift offers a more sustainable path to healing for outliers who fall through the cracks elsewhere.
⚠️ Challenges of Building Outside the Box
Creating healing for the outliers hasn’t been without hurdles. Ari shares that many clinicians misunderstand the model, and insurance billing remains a major obstacle. Despite this, Ari is actively working with managed care providers to prove Resurface’s long-term results.
He also talks about the challenges of onboarding therapists into a non-traditional model that requires “unlearning” what most therapy training teaches.
💼 Team Culture and Wellness at Resurface
Healing others starts with healing ourselves. Ari fosters a team culture that reflects that:
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30-hour full-time weeks to reduce burnout
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Flexible, self-owned schedules
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Strong relational culture—staff are encouraged to bring their whole selves
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A focus on being present, not just productive
As Ari puts it:
“If I’m not healthy, how can I heal?”
🧩 The Personal Side: Work-Life Integration
Ari shares openly about his personal life—being a dad, a surfer, a self-taught farmsteader—and how all of it is integrated into his work. His wife Leslie co-developed the clinical model alongside him, and their shared mission fuels the heart of Resurface.
Rather than chasing “balance,” Ari practices presence, allowing him to be fully engaged even in short, meaningful moments.
🔑 What It Takes to Be a Business Owner
In our signature closing question, Ari drops wisdom that applies to founders everywhere:
“It takes grit, moral clarity, and the willingness to grow through failure. And when you don’t have a boss, everyone becomes your boss.”
He embraces humility, accountability, and celebration of effort—even when mistakes happen.
🔗 Learn More & Connect with Ari
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🌐 Website: resurfacegroup.com
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📧 Email: ari@resurfacegroup.com
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💼 LinkedIn: Ari Drosman
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📘 Facebook: Resurface Group
🎧 Listen to the Episode:
🎙️ Healing for the Outliers | What It Takes Podcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
❤️ Like What You Heard?
Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s exactly why conversations like this matter.
