VPRS 18004 Triad Training and Group Work Manual

Full description

Triad Group Therapy was devised by Dr Eileen Slack and her husband Dr Charles Slack in the early 1970s. Dr Eileen Slack was the Superintendent of NYRC from 1978-1992, Triad Groups being the major program/therapy used at the centre during this period. The purpose of this Triad program was to enable trainees to change destructive/negative aspects of their behaviour and/or attitudes. i.e. alcoholism, excessive anger, prostitution. To do this Triad groups were formed. Each group consisted of trainees who had the same problem, people such as youth officers (YACCOS) who had never had the problem and people who had once had the problem but had resolved it, such as ex-Winlaton trainees. Each trainee had to attend a Triad Group five times a week. At a session the problems of a particular trainee were discussed. The goals of a Triad Group meeting were to:

- identify individual problems
- work on alternatives to behaviour identified as a problem
- to overcome brooding about or keeping silent about problems
- to help one another while discoveries are made
- to help one another find a healthier, more responsible integration of one's self.


Minute books were kept about the proceedings of Triad Group meetings by a designated secretary who could be a staff member or a trainee.


Mini-triad Groups consisting of one trainee, one staff member and one ex-resident or more advanced trainee were also held to accomplish a particular purpose. For example, to help a trainee to control self-damaging behaviour. Advanced Triad Groups were held for trainees who had got to a stage where it was felt that they had a good understanding of their problems. People from the outside community were encouraged to attend Triad sessions.


This series consists of a manual produced at Winlaton about Triad Groups. The manual is divided into five sections called 'Philosophy and Background', 'Further Information', Helpful Hints', Triad Training' and Register'. The Register' section contains work sheets for use in Triad Groups. The manual is in a manila folder.