Welcome to Groups

We all carry things.

Some things help us grow: hope, support, humor, courage, patience.

Other things can make the load a whole lot heavier: regret, shame, fear, anger, guilt, resentment.

This simple visual activity asks an important question:

What are you carrying that helps you...and what might you be ready to put down?

Use What’s in Your Backpack? as a quick group activity, discussion starter, check-in, or individual reflection.

Looking for something a little different to use in a group, session, or just for stress relief?

Colorin AI has a collection of 100+ free printable coloring pages, including options for adults.

Coloring can be an easy way to add a little creativity, relaxation, or quiet time to a session.

Take a look and see if there's anything you can use:

colorin.ai

Create custom coloring books with AI. Batch-generate pages with consistent characters and export print-ready PDFs for KDP and Etsy.

Enjoy!

Every so often I come across a free resource that I think is worth sharing. This week’s find is Print a Word Search, which has a whole collection of free printable word searches focused on mental health and wellness.

Topics include coping skills, emotions, anxiety, anger management, recovery, sobriety, mindfulness, motivation, relationships, self-esteem, stress, boundaries and more.

These can be a simple way to get a group started, fill a little extra time, or use as a lead-in to discussion.

Free Mental Health Word Searches:

https://printawordsearch.com/word-search-category/mental-health/

Hope you find something useful!

Here’s a free resource for counselors and group facilitators that you can use for ideas when navigating some of the common obstacles that come up in group therapy.

What’s also worth pointing out is how this resource was created.

I made it using the Taking the Escalator Clinical Consultant, an AI-based consultation tool specifically designed around the Taking the Escalator philosophy and methodology. The Consultant can help clinicians think through challenging situations, generate fresh approaches, strengthen engagement, and develop ideas for building insight and motivation.

Think of this free resource as an example of the kind of practical clinical guidance and brainstorming you can get from the Clinical Consultant.

Access to the Taking the Escalator Clinical Consultant is included as part of a paid Taking the Escalator Premium Membership.

So please enjoy and use this resource and if you find yourself thinking, “I could really use something like this to help…

Shame can be a difficult emotion to recognize because it doesn't always look like shame. Sometimes it shows up as anger, avoidance, defensiveness, shutting down, or just wanting to disappear.

This worksheet, adapted from concepts from ACT, helps people slow things down and look at:

• What triggered the shame

• How it showed up in thoughts, feelings, and behavior

• The important difference between shame and guilt

• What shame may be pushing them to do

If you work with children, adolescents, or families, this is an excellent resource to keep on hand.

Created by the UCLA CARES Center, this one-page handout explains social anxiety in a way that's easy for families to understand while remaining grounded in evidence. It highlights:

• Common signs and symptoms of social anxiety

• When social anxiety becomes more than typical shyness (persistence, distress, and impairment)

• How social anxiety can affect school, friendships, and family life

• An overview of evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

🆓 Free Mental Health Resource

This free guide includes dozens of worksheets, reflection activities, and practical strategies covering topics such as:

• Stress management

• Anxiety

• Self-care

• Boundaries

This week's free resource is Rethinking Drinking, an interesting guide from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

One of the things I appreciate most about this resource is its practical, nonjudgmental, and person-centered approach. Rather than telling people what they "should" do, it encourages them to better understand their relationship with alcohol, explore their own reasons for change, and make informed decisions that fit their goals.

Inside you'll find:

• Information about standard drink sizes and low-risk drinking guidelines

• Education about alcohol use and health

• A balanced pros and cons exercise to explore readiness for change

I'm happy to share The Recovery Blueprint: A 30-Day Guided Journal for Lasting Change, a free recovery journal featuring:

• Daily recovery lessons

• Reflection prompts

• Goal tracking

• Mood, stress, and craving check-ins

• Weekly reviews