Abstract

Highlighting the importance of a 'safe place' as the foundation of the healing process for those affected by child sexual abuse, this practical book details the factors that contribute to a secure therapeutic climate where recovery can take place.

The Children and Families Project draws on the perspectives of those who have been abused to show how a person-centred approach to establishing a sense of safety can enable children and their relatives to regain trust and self-esteem.

The book demonstrates how therapeutic services can be improved through feedback from service users and how creative activities such as storytelling, painting and drama can encourage the expression of experiences. The need for preventative work is also addressed. Of particular relevance to professionals is the exploration of some of the difficulties that may be encountered in this field of work, such as the tension that can arise between therapeutic work and the child protection system.

This is an invaluable resource for anyone working with abused children and adults.

The book is impressive for its use of individuals' own accounts and for stressing the importance of the notion of trust within therapeutic relationships. There are also plenty of practical tips on how to create a trusting environment.
Journal of Social Work
Not an easy read, Creating a Safer Place is however, an accessible and intelligent book for all practitioners of whatever discipline who may deal with child abuse in their work. It may also be of interest to younger people, parents and carers looking for support for them-selves and/or their children. It should also be essential reading for policy makers. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Young Minds Magazines
This book is written by a group of colleagues from the National Children's Home Childcare and Families Project who work with children, families and young people using a person-centred approach. This is a highly practical book and those counsellors considering offering a service similar to that of NCH would find it extremely useful.
Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal
This book is clearly written, making it accessible for a wide range of professionals and service users. Specialist projects like this one deserve to influence policy and the allocation of resources.
Community Care
The Children and Families Project is a multidisciplinary team founded in 1993 and is part of a national network of centres established by NCH to offer therapeutic support to sexually abused children and their relatives.
At best, therapeutic services for sexually abused children and their families are in short supply and often restricted to short-term intervention. At worst they can be misattuned to the needs of traumatised children and their carers. Alternatives often rely on small specialist project highlights the reparative value of post-protection therapy. The team draws on person-centred and trauma frameworks to inform creative approaches such as art-work, drama, storytelling and poetry. Their work is predicated on the provision of a safe therapeutic space and on trust in the capacity of individual children and adults to mobilise their inner strength. Case examples and material contributed by service users illustrate how, in a supportive environment, lives fragmented by trauma can become more whole. The book is clearly written and easily readable, making it accessible for a wide range of professionals and for service users. Specialist projects like this one deserve to influence policy and the allocation of resources. Securing resources might make organisations less fearful of addressing the plight of silenced children. Meanwhile, this book will benefit policy makers, managers engaged in project design, practitioners and service users wishing to address post-protection issues.
Sue Richardson, Psychotherapist
The book provides a comprehensive approach to treatment, balancing compassion with structure and theories with practical guidance.
Child and Families, City of Edinburgh Council