Can You Read Me?

A tool to help social care professionals facilitate self expression and long-term healing among child and adult victims of abuse, this training manual has been developed by two leading social work authors in collaboration with adult survivors from the Beyond Existing project and care workers at Barnado's. Emphasising the importance of boundaries and feeling comfortable and 'safe' in interactions with professionals, the authors show how poetry, story writing and journal keeping can be used as components of individual or group work. This book presents a wide range of writings, accompanied by comment and explanation, as well as photocopiable exercises and detailed case studies. Can You Read Me? illustrates the potential of artistic imagination and sensitivity in work with 'survivors' of abuse and those with mental health and disability problems.