It is a child-centred and respectful approach that empowers young people to establish a sense of their own identity and self-worth as they come to terms with their history and place in the world.

Therapists work with young people creatively, and alongside the support of their guardians or adoptive parents, to curate a story of images, objects and memories that express the child’s journey whilst compassionately acknowledging the reality of the their circumstances and any trauma or harm they may have faced.

The Life Story is made at a pace that is therapeutically beneficial to each child and where appropriate, may include significant objects, toys, music, letters, photographs and drawings to provide a holistic and sensory expression of the young person’s story.

Careful attention is made to help the young person understand that their value is separate from any harm they may have suffered.

Therapists bear empathetic witness to the facts that have brought the young person to their new life and assist them in processing their grief and emotions of loss as they learn to receive the support of new relationships and begin the next part of their story.

The Koru Project has a number of qualified Life Story Work practitioners on the team.

Life Story Work is part of wider therapeutic support for young people and families and combines effectively with the disciplines of Therapeutic Parenting and DDP informed practice, Play and Arts Therapies.

For more information please see our Adoption and Guardianship Support page.