Life Story
Here at Puzzled, I understand the importance of children and young people being given the truth about their history and filling the gaps they have with the information they need.
I offer several services to assist and support children, young people, parents, carers and social workers in delivering Life Story Work and discussing difficult subjects.
Therapeutic Life Story Work
In an ideal world, therapeutic life story work would be offered to all children and young people who have experienced trauma or time away from their family.
My view is that all children and young people deserve to know the truth about their journey’s, in a empathetic and sensitive way. There needs to be structure around the direct work completed and the child’s voice must be the centre of the work.
I take great care when working with children and families to make sure I hold the utmost empathy and respect in the work that we are completing together. It needs to be understood that Life Story Work is not about blame but about filling the gaps with accurate information that is missing and listening to the child tell their story.
Too often we hear that children have been told what their story is but have not had a chance to tell it themselves. Life Story Work is a wonderful way for them to feel safe and have the space to tell their version of events, after all, they lived it and survived.
More About Me Work
This is a short 10 - 12 session piece of work with a child or young person, targeting a specific subject. This is a perfect therapeutic intervention when a child doesn’t need the full course of Therapeutic Life Story Work.
For example, a child may be separated from their siblings when adopted but not understand why. MAM work is a perfect intervention to help the child understand and come to terms with the reasons behind this.
Another example : A child may live with a family member on a SGO. Years later Mum may have further children and be able to keep them in her care. The eldest child cannot understand why she could not now go and live with Mum and why her siblings are able to.
More About Me work can really target the tricky subjects these children have been holding on to and confused about. They may have been given false information about their past or remember things differently to how they were. They may remember exactly what has happened but cannot move forward from this without support.
Session plans for Social Workers
Life Story Work is a delicate and important role to go through with a child or young person who has trauma. It can be extremely difficult to know how to approach sessions in a way that flow and progress naturally for the child or young person.
This service offers to put together a detailed and therapeutic course of Life Story sessions to be undertaken by the child or young persons Social Worker to be able to support them with the questions they have and the information they deserve.
As well as carefully putting these sessions together, as part of this package, I go through each session personally with the Social Worker who will be delivering the work so they feel confident and prepared in their visits.
Therapeutic supervision can be accessed for an additional cost to discuss the outcomes of the sessions and if the Social Worker needs any further support with the work they have delivered or want to deliver.
Life Story Books
With over 10 years of creating and writing life story books, I know the importance of each life story book being unique and factual when it comes to delivering someones journey.
My belief is that any child who has spent time away from their family, whether that be foster carer, adoption or living with other family members, they deserve to know why. They need all the pieces put together to make sure they don’t have any unanswered questions or confusing feelings about that time in their lives.
I know time constraints mean that Life Story Books are mainly completed for children who are with their adopted families, leaving children living with Special Guardians or Foster Carers without the information they need to start moving past their traumas.
I am able to complete these books meaning more children will receive the answers and information they need to begin talking about the reason why they can’t live with certain people in their families.
Therapeutic Supervision
When undertaking therapeutic sessions regarding Life Story Work it is imperative you are supported by a person who has the therapeutic experience and knowledge of the work you are doing.
We are able to therapeutically supervise those undertaking Life Story Work to discuss sessions being completed, support around the workers own feelings and emotions and provide further ideas and techniques if it is felt more subjects need exploring.