Narrative and Dramatic Approaches to Children's Life Story with Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families outlines narrative and dramatic approaches to improve vulnerable family relationships. It provides a model which offers new ways for parents to practise communicating with their children and develop positive relationships.
"This is a significant book. It is significant because it acknowledges that therapeutic work with adopted and looked after children does not always align with psychoanalytic approaches to therapy that are often verbal, require complete privacy for the client, who is seen on their own, in a therapy room in a clinic. Those of us who have worked in this field have argued for a number of years that younger children, especially, need their adoptive or foster parents to be fully involved in the therapeutic process. We are also reminded that a child's primary language is first and foremost play based and needs to take place where and with whom they feel safest. Joan Moore balances wonderful, clear?case examples with solid theoretical reasoning that allows her Theatre of Attachment approach to come to life. This is an important book for practitioners in the field and others who need to give clear and coherent therapeutic?responses to traumatised children in the care system. I wholeheartedly recommend this book." - Clive Holmwood, Dramatherapist and Associate Professor, Department of Therapeutic Arts, University of Derby
"In summary this book is a compelling and multifaceted journey into a new approach of working with foster, adoptive and kinship families. I felt profoundly attuned to Moore's use of storytelling and drama with the whole family in the home setting. The Theatre of Attachment model could be of inspiration to dramatherapists willing to work with foster, adoptive and kinship families, and for play therapists willing to explore a more theatrical approach with children and families. Overall I find this book a valuable resource for deepening the understanding of how dramatic play could support adoptive families in a systemic, empathic, non judgmental, resilient process of change from trauma to trust and love."
Elisa Fontana, BAPT-ref Play Therapist, London
