NJASGW Workshop- By Elaine Howe, M.A., N.C.C.

On November 16, 2002, the NJASGW hosted a workshop on Problem Solving Procedures in Group Work. The guest speaker was Dr. James Trotzer of ETC Professional Services in New Hampshire. Dr. Trotzer recently published the 3^rd edition of his group text entitled: The Counselor and the Group: Integrating Theory, Training, and Practice. In addition, he is currently co-chair of ASGW’s Professional Development Committee.

In this informative workshop, professional counselors were able to practice Dr. Trotzer’s Group Work Training Model. The model postulates that group work centers on a bowl of "P’s": Philosophy, Psychological Rationale, Person, Process, Purpose, Practice Paradigm, Planning, Performing, Processing, Protocol, etc. The key constructs underlying these "P’s" are : integrity, merit and validity, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Johari’s window, and Problem solving.

The participants gained new insights into the value of group process through practicing this model and discussing how it impacted them both professionally and personally. One exercise involved discussing an intrapersonal, interpersonal, or work- related issue that the participants are currently grappling with.

Another interesting exercise focused on roles and systems. According to Dr. Trotzer, whenever we experience relational stress, the likely causes are due to conflicting role priorities in the system we are in, or between the systems to which we belong. Conflict can be produced when we are members of too many systems, or if others exert pressure on us to focus on one particular role over another (i.e., the tension that may arise when a wife feels a husband puts his work role over his parent role). Each system acts as if it is the only system, thus causing inter system conflict.

To demonstrate this, Dr. Trotzer asked participants to write out five different roles (on five different sheets of paper) that they currently "play" in their lives. Then, they were given a discard initiative and told that, due to a circumstance beyond their control, they had to give up one role. They were told to select that role, crumple it up and throw it on the floor. This activity was repeated until everyone had only one role remaining. Then they processed in small groups why they kept that final role and discussed how they made the decision to discard the other roles.

As participants processed this, there were audible "aha" moments echoing around the room.

We thank Dr. Trotzer for facilitating this innovative workshop and hope he will join us again in the future.

If you would like further information about the NJASGW, please contact me at elaine_howe@yahoo.com or our NJASGW president Dr. Jesse DeEsch at deesch@rider.edu.