Be a Part of the Conversation
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What helps people heal?

For many of us, the answer lies in connection with people who understand, who listen without judgment, and who remind us that we’re not alone.

In a recent episode of the Evidence to Impact podcast,host Michael Donovan welcomed Be a Part of the Conversation Director of Programs and Partnerships Bob Lamb and licensed clinical social worker, group psychotherapist, and Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute co-founder Haydn Briggs for a thoughtful discussion about recovery, family healing, and the role community plays in helping people heal.

The conversation brought together perspectives across lived experience, clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, and research. In addition to his clinical work, Haydn is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania and is working closely with Bob at Be a Part of the Conversation to study the impact of family recovery support groups and community-based recovery programs. Together, Bob and Haydn are helping advance our understanding of how family engagement contributes to healing and long-term recovery outcomes.

We know that recovery does not happen in isolation. It happens in relationships, in community, and in spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest about their struggles. We are grateful for the conversations Haydn and Bob are having to better understand the clinical implications peer and family support has on recovery.

Recovery Is About More Than One Person

An anchor of Haydn and Bob’s research, and of our work at Be a Part of the Conversation, is the fact that when a person develops a substance use disorder, the impact extends far beyond the individual. Parents, siblings, spouses, and other loved ones often experience fear, confusion, grief, and isolation. Yet support systems are frequently designed primarily for the person using substances. But we’ve seen firsthand that families need recovery, too.

Our organization was founded by Executive Director and Co-founder Kim Porter after her own family’s experience navigating her son’s substance use disorder. Like many families, she discovered how difficult it could be to find reliable information, compassionate support, and other people who truly understood what she was going through.

That experience became the foundation for our mission: empowering families and communities with education, connection, and support.

As Bob shared during the podcast, one of the biggest gaps in the recovery landscape has been support for families. That’s why our Family Recovery Course, Parent Partnership support groups, and newly launched Sibling Partnership meetings are designed to help loved ones build their own recovery journey regardless of where their family member is in the recovery process.

The Healing Power of Shared Experience

We believe one of the most powerful moments in recovery often occurs when someone realizes they are not alone. Families frequently carry tremendous shame, guilt, and self-blame. Many believe they are the only ones facing certain challenges. Then, when they hear another parent share a similar story, something begins to shift. The fear softens, the isolation lessens, and hope starts to emerge. Participants often arrive at meetings visibly anxious and overwhelmed. By the end of the session, many appear more relaxed and hopeful. Their circumstances may not have changed, but their sense of isolation has.

Research continues to support what families tell us every day: healing happens in community.

Why Connection Matters More Than Ever

Haydn spoke about how modern life often pulls us away from meaningful human connection. While technology offers many benefits, it can also make it easier to become isolated, especially during difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this challenge, leaving many people disconnected from support systems and social networks. Yet humans are wired for connection. Whether it is a recovery meeting, support group, classroom, workplace, or family gathering, people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and understood.

According to Haydn, one of the most important things we can do is stay engaged in groups and communities, even when it feels uncomfortable. Growth, healing, and resilience often emerge when people come together and support one another through shared experiences.

Exploring New Approaches to Healing

The podcast also highlighted Haydn’s work in psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. These experiential approaches help people move beyond simply talking about their experiences and instead engage with them in active and meaningful ways.

Haydn is particularly interested in understanding how people heal within groups. His ongoing doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania and his collaboration with Be a Part of the Conversation focus on evaluating the impact of support groups and family-centered recovery programs for families affected by substance use disorder.

This work aligns closely with our mission. Every day, we witness the transformative power of connection in our Family Recovery Course, Parent Partnership meetings, and Sibling Partnership meetings. Haydn’s research seeks to better understand and measure those outcomes so that more families can benefit from evidence-informed recovery support.

As organizations, schools, healthcare providers, and communities continue searching for ways to address rising rates of isolation, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders, innovative group-based approaches like those discussed in this episode offer promising opportunities for growth, resilience, and recovery.

Family Recovery Is Real

One of the most important messages from the podcast is that recovery is not limited to the individual struggling with substance use. Families can heal. Parents can learn healthier ways to communicate. Siblings can find support from others who understand their experience. Relationships can become stronger and hope can be restored.

This concept, known as family recovery, is at the heart of everything we do at Be a Part of the Conversation.

We believe that families deserve resources, education, and support just as much as the person experiencing substance use disorder. When families are empowered, entire systems become healthier.

As the conversation concluded, both guests shared a message they hope listeners will remember: Recovery is possible. In fact, recovery is happening every day in communities across the country. It may look different for different people, but healing and growth are achievable. Just as importantly, recovery and healing are contagious. When one person begins to heal, it often inspires others to do the same.

For families navigating substance use disorder, there is hope. There is support. And there is a community waiting to walk alongside you.

About the Guests

Bob Lamb, MPH

Bob Lamb serves as Director of Programs and Partnerships at Be a Part of the Conversation, where he helps lead innovative family recovery, prevention, and community education initiatives across Pennsylvania and beyond. A person in long-term recovery, Bob combines his lived experience with public health expertise to advance family-centered approaches to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support.

His work focuses on expanding access to evidence-based education, strengthening recovery-supportive communities, and developing programs that recognize the vital role families play in the recovery process. Through his leadership, Be a Part of the Conversation continues to reach families across Pennsylvania and throughout the United States with resources, support, and hope.

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn.

Haydn Briggs, LCSW

Haydn Briggs is a licensed clinical social worker, group psychotherapist, certified practitioner in psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy, and co-founder of the Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute. He works with individuals, families, groups, and organizations to strengthen relationships, process trauma, and foster meaningful connection through experiential and group-based approaches.

Haydn is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania and collaborates closely with Be a Part of the Conversation on research examining the impact of support groups and family recovery programs. His work seeks to better understand how community, connection, and shared experiences influence healing for families affected by substance use disorder.

Learn more about Haydn’s work at haydnbriggs.com and philapsychodrama.com. You can also follow him on Instagram at @haydn_briggs and @philapsychodrama or connect with the Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute on Facebook.

About the Host

Michael Donovan

Michael Donovan is Associate Director of the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative at Penn State and host of the Evidence to Impact podcast. Through his work, Michael helps bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice by connecting researchers, community leaders, practitioners, and decision-makers around evidence-informed solutions to complex social challenges.

As host of the podcast, Michael creates space for meaningful conversations that highlight how research and lived experience can work together to strengthen communities and improve outcomes.

We invite you to listen to the full episode of Healing in Conversation: Building Connection, Recovery, and Community and share it with someone who may benefit from its message.