Welcome NJCA and NJASGW members! This is our third newsletter and, once again, we would like to extend an invitation to our readers to submit ideas, articles and anecdotes on your group work experiences to this publication. I will also be updating our website quarterly (www.njcounseling.org) with information and articles, so please send your text to me at elaine_howe@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Annual Fall NJASGW Workshop

Elaine Howe, M.A., N.C.C.

 

On behalf of the NJASGW Leadership Committee, I invite you to our annual Fall workshop on group work. As in the past four years, we have another national group work leader coming to New Jersey on Saturday, November 15, 2003. Rider University is hosting the program for NJASGW, which will be held in the Select Center/Science Building. Dr. Ed Jacobs, Coordinator- Counseling Psychology Program at West Virginia University, will facilitate the workshop which is entitled- Group Counseling: An Active Leadership Model.

 

NJASGW is conducting this workshop at a minimal fee for our division members, NJCA members, and counselor education graduate students. For others who are not members of NJASGW, we invite you to become part of our team and join us on Nov. 15.  It  is important to register ahead of time as we are limiting the enrollment to 50. Our goal is to provide professional programs and support to enhance the knowledge of and use of group work for counselors and mental health professionals in all settings.

 

Becoming a Group Counselor

By George Lockwood, M.A.

 

Most of the school counselors I know received one or more group counseling courses as part of their counselor education program. Becoming more effective and more comfortable with group counseling takes time. What has worked for me over the years has been reading books and articles on group counseling, participating in counseling groups as a group member, and taking risks to work on my facilitation challenges. Also, it’s important to observe some small group counseling sessions, and learn the processes and group leader roles. Co-leading a group also is an important means to develop facilitation skills. Lastly, it is crucial to end groups with participant evaluation of the leader, the group process and the realization of their stated  individual goals. I prefer to co-lead with another facilitator so that we can work more seamlessly.

 

Ultimately, there is no perfect method of group counseling. Each successful group counselor evolves a style that is congruent with his/her personality and theoretical orientation.

 

Intensive Family Support Services.

By Pat Shaw, M.A., L.P.C.

Hunterdon Medical Center- HBH

 

Intensive Family Support Services, (otherwise known as IFFS), is a program funded in each county by grants from the Division of Mental Health. Often people have no idea what IFSS is – which is good because it could mean that you have never had a relative or someone very close to you with a chronic mental illness.

 

IFSS is a program designed to help family and friends become knowledgeable about mental illness. The goals are to form a collaborative, therapeutic alliance with them so that they can increase their knowledge as well as coping and communication skills.

 

IFSS consults with families about  their individual needs. The counselors work with family and friends to reduce the isolation and stigma surrounding mental

illness. IFSS is crucial to families so that they do not feel overwhelmed during a time of crisis. Services are provided through in-home and out- of – home sessions, advocacy, referral and linkages, psychoeducational workshops,

family support groups, and respite services to relieve family burden.

 

All  of the services are free and confidential. The counselors are trained professionals who work flexible hours to be of assistance when needed. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), a national organization of family members, is one of the biggest supports of the IFSS program.

Mental illness can destroy families, and paralyze households. IFSS provides the right tools to address this serious problem.

 

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Ed Jacobs

By Elaine Howe, M.A., N.C.C.

 

 Dr. Ed Jacobs received his MA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D in Counselor Education from Florida State University. Professional publications include 25 articles in books and journals as well as four books on counseling techniques: Impact Therapy; Creative Counseling Techniques: An illustrated Guide; Group Counseling in Correctional Settings; and Group Counseling: Strategies and Skills. Ed is the founder and director of Impact Therapy Associates. Each year, Dr. Jacobs presents workshops on Impact Therapy throughout the world. Ed has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to the group counseling field by being given the Professional Advancement Award and selected as a Fellow in the Association for Specialists in Group Work.

 

Group Counseling: An Active Leadership Model:

 

Here is an overview of the workshop being held on November 15.

 

This fast moving workshop will demonstrate how counselors can use a multi-sensory approach with their groups, which will make the groups more interesting and helpful. An active group leadership model will be presented. Counselors will be shown new ways to be creative through all phases of a group, and will be presented with means to energize a group using creative techniques.