Life story work

Children separated from their birth families are often denied the opportunity to know about their past and to clarify past events in terms of the present. They may have changed families, social workers, homes and neighbourhoods. Their past may be lost, much of it even forgotten.

Losing track of the past can make it difficult for children to develop emotionally and socially. Life story work is an attempt to give back some of this past. This guide provides a rich and creative treasure trove of techniques and exercises for adults working with children in different settings.

Life story work lays the foundations of approaching life story work with children and introduces the whys, whats, hows and whens of doing it. Case studies are used throughout to bring the material to life.

The book explores when to start life story work, how to communicate with children and help them talk about their feelings, how to work with particular groups of children, e.g. those with disabilities or those who have been sexually abused, and how to use life story work in different settings. This edition includes contributions on digital life story work with children and adolescents, and using life story work in rehabilitation situations and where unmediated contact has taken place via social media.

This book is for social workers, adoptive parents and foster carers, residential staff, teachers and nursery nurses wanting to use life story work as a way of helping children.

Read the contents page and introduction

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