ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses some of the history and cultural perspectives of the therapeutic facilitation of outdoor endeavors. Facilitators can assist participants adding to this heightening of awareness process. Neither participants nor facilitators have conscious awareness of all the learning that may be occurring. Hence, the more self-awareness facilitators have, the more likely they will be able to detect material useful to the participants. The Latin origins of the word facilitate is facilis; to make easier. The central task of the facilitation process is to ‘ease’ the self-development and healing process of the client. The therapeutic relationship between therapist/facilitator and client/participant is key in facilitating exploration, risk-taking, experimentation, insight, and change. The facilitator or therapist, the participant or client, the other group members and the group-as-a-whole if this applies, and the environment- or methodology-specific co-therapist all play potentially vital roles in the therapeutic process.
