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This workshop is presented by Julia, an adopted young person, and Jay Vaughan MBE, Clinical lead, with Karlien Smith-Claassens, Senior Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist from Family Futures.
This workshop took place on 20 October 2023 at the Family Futures 25th anniversary conference: Contact in Context.
A Note on Language: At Family Futures, we recognise that language is constantly evolving. While we now use the term “Keeping in Touch” to better reflect the nuance of maintaining family links, please note that this video was recorded when the terminology “Contact” was standard. As such, the speakers refer to “Contact” throughout the recording.
The workshop begins with Julia talking about her experience of sibling contact that was facilitated as part of her life story work and how life story and contact went hand in hand. Julia will also give an update on her ongoing relationship with her siblings and how this has supported her own sense of identity and her place in the world.
Jay discusses with Julia the role of the therapist in this process and how sibling contact needs to be facilitated and supported.
Main themes and discussion points, including questions from attendees:
- The pre-existing relationships between siblings and the impact of abuse on sibling relationships, such as scapegoating and parentification, and how to address this in the preparation for contact
- Supporting the other siblings and their needs and how to meet them
- Preparation of siblings during the contact process
- Facilitation of the sibling contact
- Follow up
You can also purchase the following recordings from the conference as individual videos to watch:
Keeping Touch, Lived Experiance– presented by Dee, an adoptive mother and Family Futures therapist with her daughter Cassie, an adopted young adult.
Keeping in Touch with Kinship Families – presented by Geoff Hudson, Social Worker at Family Futures, and Michelle Hall, a special guardian, speaking about her research in this area, her experience of contact, and the challenges involved.
How to Respond when Children Make Contact Online – presented by Alison, an adoptive parent and GP, along with Alan Burnell OBE, co-founder of Family Futures, and Michael, Child Psychotherapist at Family Futures.
