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An overview by Professor Richard Rose, from Therapeutic Life Story Work International.
Therapeutic Life Story Work is an in-depth process, facilitated by a trained Therapeutic Life Story Worker, alongside a child or young person and their supporting adult (such as a foster carer).
The process, which lasts from nine to 12 months, aims to support a child who is ‘stuck’ in processing an often difficult and complex past, which has featured trauma for them.
Therapeutic Life Story Work is typically used with children and young people who meet one or more of the following criteria:
Therapeutic Life Story Work is a three-stage approach:
Stage 1: Information Bank
The first stage of Therapeutic Life Story Work is the creation of an ‘Information Bank’ so that a clear understanding of the child’s pre-birth and post-birth history can be established. The Information Bank should develop chronologically and include evidence, both physical and written, which becomes the basis of the interaction. Gathering the information through letter writing, emails, visits, reading and interviews can be completed in approximately three or four days. The entire task of pulling the information together gathered from this process can take between one and three months.
This approach will require the Therapeutic Life Story Worker to collate this information, consider the validity and usefulness of the material at hand and then interview those involved in the child’s life to date, so that they can gain a historical perspective. The Information Bank will not depend entirely on the contents within the child’s social work file, as this is only part of the story. It will include parental contributions and health information, particularly centred on the child’s early years history. These pieces of information will allow the worker to consider the child’s ‘internal working model’ and any attachment issues.
The collation of physical evidence such as pictures, first toys, books and perhaps ‘The Red Book’ record of development alongside the birth certificate, are helpful resources which can be used as discussion points with the child, enabling them to consider their life journey and to discuss how they might care for others in the future. It is also a positive way to demonstrate that the Life Story Work process is a journey, which invites exploration and discussion.
Good Information Banks also provide essential information for those who are decision makers for the child – not just social workers but also educators, carers and health professionals. By taking time to understand where the child has come from and what part people have played in their life, the Therapeutic Life Story Worker can begin to plan the Life Story Work intervention (Stage 2) and share appropriate information with those who care for the child.
Once a clear Information Bank is created the Therapeutic Life Story Work process can move on to the second stage.
Stage 2: Internalisation
The internalisation process includes ‘wishes and feelings’ work, exploration of feelings, and the vocabulary and behavioural representation of these. The details gathered and stored within the Information Bank can be broken into session plans, and facilitated sessions between the Therapeutic Social Worker, child and carer should take place fortnightly, each session lasting not more than an hour.
It is essential that this approach is delivered alongside the primary carer as this provides a multitude of benefits, among them the creation of a safe and contained relationship for all those involved. Typically, the Internalisation stage will take about 12 – 18 sessions, and if done well, with the commitment from the carer present, this facilitated approach could support stability in the home
Stage 3: Life Story Book
Many of the notes and evidence gathered as a result of Stage 2 can be stored confidentially on the child’s file. This step can take up to 20 hours, depending upon the volume of information and the engagement of the child or young person involved. In addition to the notes and evidence stored on file, Stage 3 is where the Therapeutic Social Worker supports the child to create a Life Story Book, which typically presents the evidence of the work achieved during Stage 2.
In some instances, a child may want to take agency of the contents of their Life Story Book, becoming ‘editor in chief’. The book can then be shared (with their permission) with others.
More About Me is an in-depth process, undertaken by a trained Therapeutic Life Story Worker alongside a child or young person and their supporting adult (such as a foster carer) that lasts eight to 10 weeks.
More About Me seeks to support the child or young person to explore why they are where they are and offers them the opportunity to consider their journey from their birth family to where they are currently living. This will include the concerns, assessments, decisions, and the view of all those who have acted in their life. In doing so, they can ask, consider, and conclude the reasons for their current situation based on the events of his past.
More About Me is a smaller intervention than the Therapeutic Life Story Work programme, it takes around 8 to 12 sessions, and each session is facilitated by a trained Therapeutic Life Story Worker. The sessions can take place at the family home setting or in school.
The process for the work is similar to the Therapeutic Life Story Work, with an information bank, direct work with the child or young person and finally the development of a book. The book is typically around 30 – 40 pages in length and will include the story of the child/young person and be edited by them.
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