Looking glass: a positive communication workbook: Practical exercises to help develop positive relationships with young people

Here are ideas and guidance on building positive relationships with young women, for anyone doing direct work with them- and practical exercises to help the process. Developed through work with young women in residential care, and evaluated by them, the exercises are transferable to work in a wide variety of settings and could be adapted for work with young men. Presented in a framework for 8 sessions, each with guidance notes, Looking Glass leaves space for workers' own creative skills in adapting ideas presented here and from a range of other sources. It can offer a starting point; or a specific focus of work; or a complete piece of work. You can dip in and out of the material provided, or work through from end to end. Looking Glass includes an opening session where boundaries for the work are set, and agreement reached on issues such as recording, confidentiality, content- and a closing session where work can be reviewed, sessions formally ended or further sessions planned and agreed. The remaining sessions focus on: exploring with the young person their wishes, expectations and feelings, about themselves, their lives and their relationships; identifying their strengths and positive attributes; being a forum for discussing relationships, both positive and negative; exploring choices and dilemmas; keeping safe and making informed choices. The exercises can be photocopied and given to young people. Rather than providing solutions for specific issues or behaviours, this workbook will enhance the ability of the young person to deal with one-to-one relationships and provide opportunities for them to: feel listened to have their views recognised and valued explore the dynamics of relationships. The exercises will encourage the young woman to express her views, build confidence and begin to make informed choices. The process is achieved by the worker and the young person having a period of time to focus on the young woman's views, feelings, emotions, friendships, individual situation, past, present, future- or any other issues that she may choose to share. Contents: Introduction. Positive communication. The sessions: agreement; getting to know you; feelings; who am I?; friendships and relationships; keeping relationships; making informed choices; endings. Poster. References and reading list. 96 pages. A4 wiro paperback.