Helping a child or young person create a personal or family history by gathering and talking about their life to help them develop a sense of identity.
Explore the profound impact of Therapeutic Life Story Work, a highly effective approach developed by Richard Rose that specifically benefits children and young people. This method invites them to delve into their life's narrative, helping them make sense of their experiences, relationships and emotions.
Through structured and compassionate guidance, we collaboratively create a personal life story that illuminates their unique journey. By weaving together past experiences with the present, Therapeutic Life Story Work empowers children and young people to heal, grow and develop resilience.
This process involves creative activities, discussions and storytelling, providing a safe and nurturing space for them to express their thoughts and feelings.
Whether you are seeking therapeutic support for an individual or a family, this approach offers a path to self-discovery, understanding and positive transformation.
At Jogo Behaviour Support, we are dedicated to building stronger futures together.
Therapeutic Life Story Work may help:
Therapeutic Life Story Work has 3 stages:
1. The Information Bank
This stage involves the gathering of in-depth historical information about the child: both pre-birth and post-birth history. The information will be carefully gathered from various sources to develop a holistic view of the child's experiences. By ascertaining a detailed history, will enable an informed understanding of where the child has come from and the relationships they have experienced, thus providing information about the child's internal working model and their attachment strategies. It will also identify any gaps in the child's history that can be researched. By collating this information provides the narrative to the second stage of the Therapeutic Life Story Work; Internalisation.
2. The Internalisation Stage
“The ideal internalisation is one where the child reaches acceptance of who she was, who she is and a clear understanding that she has the power to shape who she can be.” (Rose, 2012)
This stage is about undertaking sessions with the child and their parents/carers to help the child to gain a coherent narrative about their life journey and develop an informed positive sense of self. It is an opportunity through play and creative mediums for the child and parents to explore the feelings and thoughts related to their life experiences. This stage is generally about 12 -18 sessions and is undertaken with child, parents and therapist.
3. The Life Story Book
This stage occurs towards the end of the sessions and a life story book is completed incorporating the child's work developed in the internalisation stage. The child is involved in the development of the book, enabling them to have ownership of their life story.
Artspsychotherapy.org. (2017). Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work (University of East London validated course) | Child Therapy | Therapy Courses. [online] Available at: https://artspsychotherapy.org [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
Rose, R. (2012) Life Story Therapy with Traumatised Children: A Model of Practice. London; Jessica Kingsley
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