Life Story & Timeline Work

Helping children understand their family narrative

What is Life Story & Timeline Work?

Life Story & Timeline Work involves mapping out a child’s timeline of their childhood, including significant events, holidays, and family milestones. This process helps children understand their family narrative and explore their feelings at each stage. It is particularly useful for children who have gaps in their relationship with one parent or wider family members, or for children who are unjustly negative towards one parent.

Our Approach:

Our approach to Life Story & Timeline Work includes:

1.

Using photographs and videos provided by parents to plot the child’s timeline.

2.

Exploring the child’s feelings about each event using emojis or other visual aids.

3.

Conducting sessions in short bursts to accommodate the child’s concentration span.

4.

Working with children separately from their parents to ensure genuine responses.

Why Life Story and Timeline Work Matters?

Life Story and Timeline Work is crucial because it helps children:

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Understand and process their family history.

Correct any false narratives that may have been created.

Build a more accurate and balanced understanding of their relationships and family networks.

Develop a sense of identity and belonging.

Why Choose Us?

Choosing us for Life Story & Timeline Work offers several benefits:

Expertise in High-Conflict Cases

Our team has extensive experience in dealing with high-conflict cases and families facing a range of issues.

Child-Focused Approach

We prioritise the child’s needs and ensure sessions are tailored to their age and understanding.

Proven Techniques

We use effective methods such as emojis and drawings to help children express their feelings and understand their family narrative.

Supportive Environment

We work with children separately from their parents to ensure they feel safe in providing genuine responses.

Examples from Our Work

1.

Correcting False Narratives: In one case, a child believed they had never had a positive experience with their father. By showing them videos of fun holidays and family activities, we helped them realise that their solely negative memories were often a false narrative, and that they had enjoyed many happy times.

2.

Building Positive Relationships: Another child was introduced to their estranged father through Life Story Work. By using photographs and timeline activities, we helped them see their father as a part of their life and identity, correcting the harmful narrative they had been told.

3.

Supporting identity needs: In one dual heritage family where a child was rejecting the non-British side of his family, we worked with Mum to gather memories of family events on her side and by way of photos and lots of talking we not only reunited the boy with his Mother but also assisted the development of his cultural identity.

FAQs

What are the benefits of life story work for children?

Life story work helps children understand their personal histories, especially if they have experienced trauma or change. It provides clarity, repairs misunderstandings, and supports identity development. It can also improve attachment by helping children make sense of their experiences in a supported and therapeutic way.

What is a timeline in life story work?

A timeline is a visual tool that maps significant events in a child’s life. It may include dates, photos, drawings, key memories or symbols such as emojis. Creating a timeline helps children process their experiences and understand their journey in a structured and accessible way.