Facilitated Growth

This week I want to focus on the book I co-authored that specializes on experiential activities for recovery and wellness, Facilitated Growth.

When we first started writing Facilitated Growth, we wanted to create more than just a book of activities. We set out to build a practical, compassionate guide that would help facilitators create spaces where people in recovery could feel seen, heard, and supported. Together with Marc Pimsler and Diane Sherman, we combined our years of experience in experiential facilitation, clinical counseling, and recovery work to offer tools that truly make a difference.

This book is packed with activities that spark insight, connection, and meaningful change. But more importantly, it’s built on the belief that people heal in community – and that well-facilitated group work can be life-changing. Whether you’re working with addiction, trauma, grief, or wellness programs, Facilitated Growth helps you bring clarity, energy, and compassion into the room.
Traditional talk therapy and group discussions are powerful – but they don’t always reach everyone. Some people process through movement, metaphor, or doing. Experiential activities invite participants to experience rather than just analyze. They surface real-world behaviors like trust, avoidance, leadership, or fear in a safe, controlled space. Counselors can then use these moments to build insight and gently guide change from the inside out.

Experiential work also deepens group cohesion. Activities that require teamwork, vulnerability, or reflection help participants form connections faster and more meaningfully. When people feel part of a group, they’re more likely to stay engaged, show up fully, and support one another’s progress. For clients in recovery or navigating difficult life transitions, that sense of community can be a game-changer.

Finally, these activities bring energy and hope back into the room. Recovery work can be heavy, and it’s easy for group sessions to feel stale or repetitive. Facilitated Growth offers a creative, flexible way to keep sessions fresh while still addressing serious themes. And if you’re ready to dive in fully, we also offer the Facilitated Growth Activity Kit, which includes all the props you need to bring the book’s activities to life – so you can start using them right away.

Book: https://www.trainingwheelsgear.com/collections/therapeutic-tools/products/facilitated-growth

Kit: https://www.trainingwheelsgear.com/products/facilitated-growth-kit