This text provides ideas and guidance on building positive relationships with young women for anyone doing direct work with them, and practical exercises to help the process. Developed through work with young women in residential care, and evaluated by them, the exercises are transferable to work in a wide variety of settings and could be adapted for work with young men. Such settings could include: social work, child protection, residential care, youth offending, youthwork, adoption and fostering. Presented in a framework for 8 sessions, each with guidance notes, "Looking Glass" leaves space for workers' own creative skills in adapting ideas presented here and from a range of other sources. It can offer a starting point, or a specific focus of work, or a complete piece of work. The text includes an opening session where boundaries for the work are set, and agreement reached on issues such as recording, confidentiality and content, as well as a closing session where work can be reviewed, sessions formally ended or further sessions planned and agreed.
The remaining sessions focus on: exploring with the young person their wishes, expectations and feelings about themselves, their lives and their relationships; identifying their strengths and positive attributes; being a forum for discussing relationships, both positive and negative; exploring choices and dilemmas; and keeping safe and making informed choices. The exercises can be photocopied and given to young people. Rather than providing solutions for specific issues or behaviours, this workbook aims to enhance the ability of young people to deal with one-to-one relationships. The exercises should encourage the young woman to express her views, build confidence and begin to make informed choices.