Talking to My Mum

Cathy Humphreys, Ravi K Thiara, Agnes Skamballis and Audrey Mullender form the research team for the Centre for the Study of Safety and Wellbeing, at the University of Warwick. Cathy Humphreys is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Studies at the University of Warwick. Ravi K Thiara is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health and Social Studies at the University of Warwick. Audrey Mullender is Principal of Ruskin College, Oxford University. Her distinguished research career has focused on domestic violence, post-adoption issues for birth relatives and groupwork theory.

Talking to my mum, the companion voulune to Talking about Domestic Abuse, is a well-organised, easy-to-read activity workbook providing another excellent resource, this time for working with children aged between five and eight years old, who have experienced domestic abuse within their families. With the use of current research, the authors have shown great understanding and sensitivity in identifying issues that contribute to the difficulties women and children face when living within or leaving an abusive relationship. The workbook activities, with their excellently illustrated woodland characters, have been developed to attract and draw on the imagination of young children. Each activity introduces characters as a way for mothers and children to talk symbolically about positive and negative memories, changes that have happened in their lives, to identify and express feelings and move feeling and move forward on their journey to anew life. All the activities offer the opportunity for mothers and children to spend quality time together. Families can rebuild positive relationships in a safe, creative and fun way. This can only be helpful to the child's future development and self-esteem, and also to the mother's belief in herself as a parent. Both books would be essential tools for practitioners working with children and young people whose families have experienced domestic abuse. They are clearly written and illustrated in an engaging style that grasps the reader's attention. They also deepen an understanding of how and why a creative approach with children can work in the healing process.

• Acknowledgements. Foreword by June Freeman. Introduction and guidance. Section 1: Early days. 1. Me and my mum. 2. Your new friends. 3. Exploring the place where you live. 4. Exploring the refuge. 5. Changes I like and things I miss. 6. Match the feelings. 7. The same and different. 8. About safety. Section 2: Talking about things that matter. 9. Wise ideas from Ollie. 10. More about us. 11. A story about Nibbles and Prickles. 12. Good things and bad things. 13. Good times and bad times. 14. Bas talks about changes in families. 15. Talking about my dad. 16. Taz imagines a happy time. 17. Feelings tree. Section 3: Moving on. 18. Keeping track of my life. 19. Moving on. 20. Safe hands. 21. My space. 22. Looking backwards and looking forwards. Certificate. Reflection sheet and feedback form. Conclusion. Useful contacts.