Hearing Young People Talk About Witnessing Domestic Violence. Susan Collis

is crucial not to dismiss anything which is given by a young person. The value of a snippet of a story should be recognised, appreciated and recorded in some way, and this will inevitably produce a feeling within the young person that their stories are being treasured. More of their stories will follow, and many more insights; but the only way this will ever happen is to follow the direction of Mullender (2005) and make every effort to give children and young people a chance to talk.

      As Scott talked, it was evident that he had gained a profound understanding of what the support workers had been encouraging him to do, and had used this understanding to modify his behaviour by changing his attitudes.

      As Coral talked, it was evident that she had seen herself as being the one to hold everything together, and she had ‘held on’ successfully until the time came for her mother to step in and sought support for herself and her children.

      As Karl talked, it was evident that he had still retained an intense sense of loss, which had remained but which he could manage with strategies which he had naturally developed independently.

      As Terry talked, it was evident that he had wanted to protect his mother and that all that had happened had served only to increase this desire. He had not changed this attitude, and remained fiercely protective of her.

      As Rose talked, it was evident that in emotional terms she had suffered a great deal, and had needed to blame others for her pain. However, she had learnt through appropriate support to accept the faults of others by seeing them with a greater degree of tolerance and an understanding born of anguish.

      It is not hard to assess and interpret stories in this way. The essence of what a young person has experienced may surface spontaneously, and it provides a starting point in knowing what each young person might need. Scott needed to be provided with the tools of support, so that he could make changes to himself and assist others to do the same. Coral needed to be allowed her independence with an understanding that at some point she would recognise that she would do better with help. Karl needed to express himself in lots of ways to find out what worked for him. Terry needed to be encouraged to see that his mother was not his responsibility. Rose needed to know that she could make a decent life for herself with people she chose for herself.

      The bare bones may reveal a theme which can act as a guide or starting point in putting together a plan of support for a young person or child. This theme might be what some would call ‘a gut feeling’, which should not be ignored; but there should always be an attempt to build on or discount this feeling using further reflection and analysis. By doing so, a degree of safeguarding is ensured, in that the support is not based solely on a hunch or on what is believed to be the essence of the need. Rather it is founded on a thorough examination of everything that is contained in the telling of the story, leaving nothing out.

      The following chapters of this book reveal my attempt at doing just that.