ABSTRACT
Life story work describes an approach that helps young people to talk and learn about their life experiences with the help of a trusted adult. It often involves recording relevant aspects of their experience in the form of a book, film, audio record or computer file. Life story work has been reported in a range of social care and health settings: with young people. Some practitioners argue for a more coherent, consistent model of life story work to be carried out, and that it should be a fundamental entitlement for children in care. Life story work was challenging emotionally for some of the young people interviewed, because of the complexity of their lives and because sometimes they did not want to recall upsetting experiences. All the young people expressed positive feelings towards life story work, but some found the process tedious at times and perceived it as being a chore.
