Empowering growth through experience, connection, and reflection.
🔍 This Month’s Theme: The Power of Presence in Experiential Learning
As summer winds down and transitions begin—new routines, academic years, or seasonal shifts- it’s the perfect time to reflect on how being present shapes our experiences. Whether leading a group, working with clients, or navigating your development, presence is the foundation of connection and transformation.
Reflection Prompt:
How often do you catch yourself mentally multitasking or thinking ahead? This month, challenge yourself to anchor into the moment.
🎯 Therapist Strategies: Staying Grounded With Clients
In experiential learning, facilitators model the emotional regulation they hope to cultivate in others. One powerful tool is grounding through the senses. When tension rises in a session, try:
Naming 5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Use this for yourself or as a co-regulation strategy with clients or groups.
🧠 Scientific Insight: Presence & Neuroplasticity
Recent neuroscience research confirms that present-moment awareness enhances neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself. According to Siegel et al. (2023), experiential engagement increases emotional integration and cognitive flexibility, particularly in trauma-informed settings.
Reference:
Siegel, D. J., Bryson, T. P., & Blackwell, A. (2023). Presence and the Pathways of Healing: A Neurorelational Perspective. Journal of Experiential Neuroscience, 17(2), 102–117.
📚 Featured Resource:
Book: The Art of Facilitation by Dale Hunter
An essential guide for creating safe, respectful, and powerful learning environments using experiential methods. Includes exercises for group dynamics and managing complex emotions.
Book: Finding the Spirit Within: A self-guided mental health activity workbook
A full treatment plan of activities for therapists and their clients.
Book: N.O.R.M.A.L: A guide to living an authentic life by Randy Hamelin
Using the acronym NORMAL and ABNORMAL to get unstuck and thrive.
Book: Merry & Mindful: Creating a meaningful Christmas on a budget by Randy Hamelin
Why stress about the holidays when you don’t have to? This guide will provide creative solutions with the smallest budget to have a magical Christmas.
Book: Writing Mindfully: A guide to writing with presence and purpose by Randy Hamelin
Don’t let writer's block stop you from finding your voice. This book is full of advice from the top teachers in writing.
Book: Men Cry Too series: A guide to men’s depression; A guide to men’s grief by David Bilow
These two books for men are full of advice on getting through some of life's darkest and scariest times. Let them be your guide to healing, acceptance, and self-love.
https://a.co/d/h6FrZNW https://a.co/d/h7P8aeI
🐴 Spotlight: Equine-Assisted Learning
Our summer sessions in equine-assisted learning have brought powerful breakthroughs. One 12-year-old participant said after leading her horse through an obstacle course, “I didn’t think I could be a leader, but he listened to me.” Horses mirror authenticity and emotional congruence. Skills vital for personal and professional relationships.
Upcoming Fall Sessions: Email us to register: randy@hamelinpsychotherapy.com
🧘♀️ Practitioner Self-Care: A Presence Practice
Try this 2-minute daily reset before or after your sessions:
“I inhale clarity. I exhale distraction. I give myself permission to arrive fully in this moment.”
Repeat for 5 slow breaths with one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
🧑⚕️ NEW: Hamelin Psychotherapy Update
Did you know our experiential model also guides our psychotherapy services?
At Hamelin Psychotherapy, we offer individual and group therapy rooted in presence, authenticity, and real-world integration. Our approach includes:
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
CBT & Narrative Therapy
Online Group Therapy
Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, self-doubt, trauma, or relationship concerns, we’re here to help you break through patterns and build a more meaningful life.
📞 Contact: 226-340-2447
📧 Email: randy@hamelinpsychotherapy.com
🌐 Learn more: www.hamelinpsychotherapy.ca
💡 Upcoming Events
Every Sunday Live at 9 pm, Therapy Share is a supportive and collaborative space where therapists exchange ideas, insights, and resources. This free workshop is designed to spark creativity, build community, and inspire new ways to help clients thrive. Whether looking for fresh techniques, peer feedback, or a place to connect with like-minded professionals, Therapy Share offers a space to grow together.
https://calendar.app.google/j1wwMiyy6hf7id8R9
Aug 14– Free Online Intensive Workshop, “Breaking Free from Self-Doubt”. Are you ready to break the cycle of self-doubt and reclaim your confidence? Join us for a powerful one-hour online workshop introducing key strategies from our 8-week therapeutic program: Breaking Free from Self-Doubt: Reclaiming Confidence and Clarity.
https://calendar.app.google/bPZqdD8otHanjvd99
Aug 18 – 8-week online group, “Breaking Free from Self-Doubt.
📩 Want to register? Email us at randy@hamelinpsychotherapy.com
🌟 Final Thought
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Let August be the month where your presence becomes your most powerful intervention.
