By Grace Beckett, Therapeutic Life Story Worker, South Gloucestershire Council
“When people ask me what I do, I often find it hard to explain. Life story work is so personal, so varied, and so deeply rooted in the individual journeys of the children we support. But at its heart, it’s about helping children in care understand their past, make sense of their experiences, and feel more secure in who they are.”
Why Life Story Work Matters
“Many of the children I work with come into care with unanswered questions. They might not understand why they’re no longer living with their birth family, or they might carry feelings of guilt or confusion. Life story work gives them a safe space to explore those questions.
“I worked with a young person who believed it was their fault they’d come into care. Their mum had struggled with drug use and mental health issues, and they had internalised that as something they had caused. Through our sessions, we explored what addiction and mental health really mean, and how those challenges had affected their mum.
“Over time, they began to understand that it wasn’t their fault—and it wasn’t really their mum’s fault either. She had been unwell. That shift in understanding was powerful. It helped them let go of blame and opened up conversations with their foster carers that hadn’t been possible before.”
What the Process Looks Like
“Therapeutic life story work is a long-term commitment. It usually takes around a year, with sessions every fortnight. Before we even meet the child, we gather information from people who’ve been important in their life—parents, grandparents, schools, social workers. That background helps us build a fuller picture of their story.
“Once we start, we spend the first 8 to 10 sessions focusing on emotional literacy—helping the child understand their feelings, build trust, and feel safe. Then we begin to explore their history.
“We use a huge roll of wallpaper that stays in their home, and each session we add to it—drawing, writing, sticking on worksheets or notes. Sometimes they even leave messages for us between visits. At the end, we create a book that captures everything we’ve done together. It’s theirs to keep, along with a digital copy on a USB stick.”
Therapeutic vs. Traditional Life Story Work
“There’s a difference between therapeutic life story work and traditional life story work. The therapeutic approach is more in-depth and emotionally focused. It’s for children who are ready to explore their feelings and experiences in a supported way. Traditional life story work is often shorter and more factual—answering specific questions or creating a memory book with photos and keepsakes.
“Both are valuable, but therapeutic life story work requires the child to be in the right place emotionally. That’s why we start with a consultation to make sure it’s the right time for them.”
Child-Led and Flexible
“Every child is different, so every piece of life story work looks different. Some children love drawing and games; others prefer talking. Teenagers might want fewer visuals and more conversation. We adapt everything to suit the child’s needs and preferences. It’s very much their journey—we’re just there to support and narrate.
“We also make sure they’re emotionally safe. If a session gets difficult, we pause. We might play a game, listen to music, or just sit with the feeling. The child always has control. If they say, “I don’t want to talk about this,” we stop. It’s their story, not ours.”
What I’ve Learned
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that children often remember more than we think. If we don’t help them understand their story, they’ll create their own version—and that can be more painful or confusing. Life story work gives them the facts, the context, and the space to make sense of it all.
“It also strengthens their relationships with carers. When a foster carer understands a child’s past, it builds empathy and trust. The child sees that their carer knows everything—and still chooses to care for them. That’s incredibly powerful.”
Looking After Ourselves
“This work can be emotionally intense. I’m lucky to have a supportive manager and regular supervision with an experienced life story practitioner. I also try to practise what we preach—self-care. Whether it’s going to the gym, listening to a podcast, or spending time with friends, it’s important to look after ourselves too.”
Final Thoughts
“Life story work is hard to explain because it’s so personal. But I’ve seen the difference it makes. I’ve seen children let go of guilt, ask questions they were too scared to ask, and start to feel more at peace with their past. That’s why I do this work. That’s why it matters.”
The Richard Rose Model of Therapeutic Life Story Work
At South Gloucestershire Council, we use the Richard Rose model of Therapeutic Life Story Work—a structured, evidence-based approach that places the child at the centre of their own narrative.
It’s therapeutic process that helps children explore their emotions, build trust, and develop a coherent understanding of their life experiences. It’s flexible, child-led, and deeply respectful of each young person’s pace and readiness. By combining emotional literacy with creative tools and consistent support, it empowers children to reclaim their story in a safe and supported way.
About Grace
Grace is a Therapeutic Life Story Worker at South Gloucestershire Council. She joined the council in 2019 and has been dedicated to supporting children and young people for over six years.
Before joining South Gloucestershire, Grace spent five years working in an alternative learning school for 13–18-year-olds who had been excluded from mainstream education. Prior to that, she gained eight years of experience working with children and young people aged 0–18 across a variety of settings.
Grace holds a BTEC Diploma in Early Years and a degree in Childhood Studies. When she first joined the council, she worked as a FACS (Fostering and Children’s Services) worker, supporting foster carers and children in care who were at risk of placement breakdown.
In 2021, Grace began training in Therapeutic Life Story Work and qualified in 2022. She initially balanced this role alongside her FACS work on a part-time basis before transitioning to a full-time Therapeutic Life Story Worker position in 2024.
