Learning to Let Silence Speak: Annie Belmer on GPS Training

“I learned that silence can be healing—and that just being present can be enough.”

— Annie Belmer, Certified Recovery Counselor and Spring 2025 GPS MASStrong Facilitator Training Participant

For Annie Belmer, a Recovery Counselor at Community Health Connections in Massachusetts, the Spring 2025 GPS MASStrong Facilitator Training was more than just a professional development opportunity—it was an invitation to lead with presence, humility, and trust in the power of peer support. Annie joined the training with a team of recovery coaches, all eager to expand the depth and reach of their work. Supported by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), the opportunity opened doors to a model she’d heard about, but had yet to fully explore.

“We all signed up together.”

“I’ve heard of GPS working with individuals in substance use and recovery,” Annie shares. “So when it came that it was being offered and BSAS was helping us to subsidize, that really helped. We all got signed up over here at Community Health Connections. So we all took the training.”

The GPS model—which centers safety, empowerment, and shared lived experience—resonated deeply with Annie’s values as a peer leader. As she moved through the training, she found herself reflecting not only on the structure of facilitation, but on the energy and presence a facilitator brings into the room.

Letting Silence Speak

Among the many takeaways, one lesson stood out: the power of silence.

“I learned more about the importance of silence—that silence is also healing,” Annie reflects. “Instead of always wanting someone to say something, or to have music playing, or something going on… sometimes, silence is what people need.”

She notes that as a recovery coach, it can be tempting to fill space with questions or advice—but the training reminded her that often, the most meaningful support is simply holding space. “You don’t always have to ask a question. You don’t always have to have the answer. It’s about allowing the individual to just speak—and just be.”

Looking Ahead

The experience has sparked new goals for Annie. She’s not only excited to implement GPS in her own groups—she’s already thinking about how to support others on the same journey.

“I would like to understand how to teach and train someone else in GPS,” she says. “This work is too important not to share.”

As she looks toward certification and facilitator coaching, Annie stands ready to carry forward the spirit of the GPS model: one grounded in healing, connection, and the simple power of being present.

If you’d like to learn more about GPS training and how it can help you hold space for others while nurturing your own growth, visit our calendar to explore upcoming trainings and resources.