ABSTRACT
Emotional sessions are those where the emotional impact is often high, and so having a carer present, or other professional who knows the young person well, can be very supportive and helpful. The other adult must have a positive relationship with the young person, as this allows them to hear the telling of the story, the difficult times and the good times, and to reinforce some of the messages one wants to give to the young person: that they are acceptable and lovable and that, most probably, they were not to blame for much of what they experienced. This co-authoring of different times in the young person’s life can take a number of sessions. It’s important to note as well that it is likely to be emotionally raw for the young person to share about these times. The emotions cards need to be at hand for the young person to use to indicate how they are feeling.
