Can You Read Me?

Jacki Pritchard is a qualified social worker who has worked as a practitioner and manager in both fieldwork and hospital settings. She is currently working as an independent trainer, consultant and researcher focusing on abuse, risk and violence. Eric Sainsbury worked as a probation officer, social worker and social work teacher. He was associated with the course recognition and review procedures of CCETSW and, since retirement from the University of Sheffield, with quality assessment of applied social work and social policy courses for HEFCE. He has served as Chair of the Children's Services Committee of NCH and as a Vice President of Family Service Units

• Acknowledgements. Glossary of Terms. 1. What It's All About 2. Issues and Practicalities in Preparing the Book. 3. The Projects. 4. Themes from the Interviews with the Writers. 5. Using Poetry 1: Poems Presented by the Younger Adults. 6. Using Poetry 2: Poems Presented by the Other Adults. 7. Using Journals. 8. Using Stories 1: Adults. 9. Using Stories 2: Children. 10. Endings and Beginnings. 11. Exercises for Adult Victims. References. Index

Occupational therapists will already be familiar with the principles of group work but the book demonstrates who the use of poetry can be used to order the chaos of the thoughts of the writers and describes the practical use of journals for workers in helping victims through the healing process. The book is also littered with useful snippets of advice. It is written in an economical, plain language sensitive to the subject matter and is deceptively quick to read as you are drawn in by the emotional raw poetry and writing it contains.