Support Offered by Safe Harbour Stories

“The most important thing a child needs is at least one person who is irrationally crazy about them.”  

Urie Bronfenbrenner (developmental psychologist)

Safe Harbour Stories offers Therapeutic Life Story Work for people aged 5 and above who are care experienced, including those in foster care, adoptive placements, or special guardianship arrangements. The work is particularly beneficial for children who may have experienced trauma, uncertainty, or disruption, and who need support to understand their past in a safe, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate way.

I travel within a one‑hour radius from my base near Frome in Somerset. Wherever possible, sessions take place in the child’s home, where they feel most comfortable and secure. I ask that a trusted adult (usually the caregiver) is present and actively participates in every session. The benefit of working in this way is that, alongside relational safety, the child experiences that their caregiver can bear and hold what has happened to them, helping to build the foundation for greater stability within the home.

The process typically takes place over 12–18 1 hour sessions (6–9 months), with the child seen fortnightly. This pacing allows time for trust to build, for emotions to be safely processed, and for the child to gradually develop a clearer and more coherent understanding of their story.

Please refer to The Three Stages for further information about the process and how the work is delivered.

For children in adoptive placements or under Special Guardianship Orders (including where there has been an adoption breakdown) funding may be available through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, which can be used to access this work.

If you would like to find out more information about costs and whether this service is the right support for the child that you are caring for please contact enquiries@SafeHarbourStories.com