When a group gets stuck, the seemingly obvious solution is to start solving problems.
“We can’t agree on priorities.”
“Our meetings keep going off the rails.”
“We keep having the same argument.”
Many groups are convinced that they already know what the problem is.
For Tamara, that’s just the starting point.
After years of working as a social worker and trained facilitator, Tamara knows that there’s usually something not so obvious going on—a problem behind the problem.
Like a detective, she listens carefully, asks questions, and follows the thread underneath the frustration.
She wants to know:
- What is actually going wrong?
- When does it happen?
- Who is involved?
- How often does it happen?
- What impact is it having?
At first, the process can feel tedious. Most groups think they already know what their problem is and want to jump straight to solutions.
But Tamara has found that the fastest way forward is to slow down and define the problem really well.
Once that happens, the group is able to make clear, manageable changes.
Here’s one example:
Instead of “Our meetings aren’t working”…
It becomes “Ever since last summer, we seem to be competing with each other to address agenda items, which leaves everyone anxious and frustrated, and means we often don’t actually reach a decision before the meeting darts off to another topic.”
But after working with Tamara, the group has a system for prioritizing agenda items.
Things are clearer, more manageable, and there’s a plan for moving forward.
They also leave with new skills, so that the next time a problem pops up, the group can get to the bottom of it on their own.
Using a structured problem-solving process, Tamara guides your team from a collection of frustrations to a shared problem statement, a clear picture of what success looks like, and practical next steps your group can take together.
Who this is for
Strong candidates — groups that:
- Have been organizing long enough to have tried things and run into friction
- Have more than one person involved — this is a team conversation, not individual coaching
- Have a challenge with a human or interpersonal dimension, not just a technical one
- Are motivated to do something different, not just vent about what’s frustrating
- Can articulate some version of what ‘better’ would look like, even roughly
- Have tried at least 3 things to solve the problem already
Not the right fit — groups that need:
- A technical deliverable: permit analysis, FOIA filing, legal research, or data work
- Someone to fix it for them rather than help them fix it themselves
- Individual coaching for one person rather than a team session
- Stabilization first — if the group is in acute crisis, they may need to steady before they can use this session productively
About Tamara
Some problems can’t be solved by working harder.
They require someone who knows how to slow the conversation down, ask the right questions, and help a group see what they couldn’t see on their own.
That’s the role Tamara has played throughout her career.
As a licensed clinical social worker, facilitator, and process improvement specialist, she’s spent decades helping people navigate complicated situations where the solution wasn’t immediately obvious.
Her work has ranged from supporting individuals through difficult conversations to leading process improvement initiatives inside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she helped teams untangle complicated workflows and solve organizational problems that had resisted change for years.
Today, she brings those same skills to frontline organizers and groups working to protect their communities.
Testimonials
“Tamara doesn’t just facilitate—she designs lasting transformation. Tamara has worked with our team for over a decade, guiding us through a series of complex process improvements, helping us set outcomes that seemed ambitious at the time.
Today, after many wins and several structural transformations, our actual results hit those projections dead-on. That rare ability to combine visionary planning with enduring efficiency has saved thousands of hours, freed up critical capacity, and forever elevated how our agency serves the public.”
“Tamara is awesome!”
Here’s How It Works
Finding the real problem is the hardest part.
Once your group has done that, moving forward becomes much easier.
- Apply – Tell us a little about your group, the challenge you’re facing, and who’s involved. Halt the Harm Network will review your application to make sure this service is the right fit.
- Discovery Call – If approved, Tamara will meet with your lead organizer to understand the situation, answer questions, and prepare your team for the workshop.
- Facilitated Working Session – Your core leadership team joins Tamara for a 90 minute Zoom session where your group will work through her structured problem-solving process together.
- Leave with a Roadmap – By the end, you’ll have a clearly defined problem, a shared picture of success, and agreement on where to focus first. Within 48 hours you’ll receive a completed Action Map summarizing your group’s work, along with the next steps you’ve agreed to take.
From Overwhelmed to Moving Forward
Every group’s situation is different, but participants typically leave with:
- A clear, shared definition of the problem they’re trying to solve.
- Agreement on what success looks like.
- Practical next steps that feel realistic instead of overwhelming.
- A simple framework they can use to tackle future challenges together.
- More productive meetings and conversations going forward.
The Goal Isn’t Just to Solve One Problem
It’s to help your team become better at solving problems together.
Groups often finish the workshop with more than an action plan.
They leave with a practical process they can use the next time they hit a roadblock.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they have a path forward.
Instead of returning to the same conversations, they have a shared way to work through difficult decisions together.
Ready to move forward?
If your group keeps circling the same challenges and can’t seem to agree on where to start, this workshop can help.
Apply today to see if it’s the right fit for your team.
More testimonials
“The most helpful thing? The clear approach to problem identification followed by the solution process. I will be using this in my personal life as well. I wish we had more time… absolutely fantastic.”
“Great job! Super valuable to me, tackling a long-standing issue. This demonstrates how to get buy-in and show shared issues.”
“Thank you! you helped us work through issues we hadn’t been able to break down before.”