Full Description
Life story work is a term often used to describe an approach that helps looked after and adopted children to talk and learn about their life experiences with the help of a trusted adult. This book is an essential step-by-step guide for carers and professionals seeking to carry out life story work with a traumatised or vulnerable child in their care.
Underpinned by positive psychology and drawing on up-to-date research and real-life practice, the book offers a sound theoretical understanding of life story work as well as a practical and easy-to-use programme of sessions. Each session covers the equipment and information needed, a consideration of who is best placed to carry out the work, and answers to commonly raised questions. Also discussed are age-appropriate approaches and ideas for extending each session into other activities and methods to make it more feasible for life story work to be a shared activity between two or three adults who know the child well.
This book gives professionals and carers the confidence to carry out life story work in a way that is sensitive to the child's needs and positive for their self-perception and relationships.
Contents
Preface Introduction A narrative approach to life story work Research around the effectiveness of using a narrative approach How to use this book Session one: establishing the ground rules and feelings cards Session two: The Tree of Life (part A) Session three: the tree of life (part B) Session four: A map of all the places you have lived Session five: Birth certificate Sessions six and seven: Co-constructing the story so far Session eight: Stones in a jar, acknowledging different types of memories Session nine: Origami hearts: Celebrating people who have had a positive impact Session ten: The Team of Life, part 1: Values Session eleven: Team of life part 2: Identifying their team and goals Session twelve: Team of life part 3: Tackling problems Session thirteen: Therapeutic stories References Appendix one: tree outline Appendix two: strength cards Appendix Three: feelings cards Appendix Four: Jar of stones activity Appendix five: team of life, football pitch outline
