Trauma Informed Care & Therapy
Life Story Direct Work
Life Story PPF (Past, Present, Future) is a powerful, structured model of Life Story Direct Work, developed by Laura Neal and Kim Matthews, creators of the Five Approaches to Life Story Work. Built
from years of working with hundreds of care-experienced children, this model provides young people with in-depth information about their history space to process past trauma.
Unlike Therapeutic Life Story Work, PPF is designed for children who do not require therapy but would benefit from structured Life Story support to help them make sense of their past, understand their present, and build hope for the future.
Who Life Story Direct Work Helps
Who Provides It?
Delivered by Life Story Direct Work practitioners trained and certified in the PPF model, who receive regular
clinical supervision to ensure quality and consistency.
What Can Life Story Direct Work Help With?
Who Can It Support?
Children aged 4 and above who need to explore and understand their story but do not require therapeutic
intervention.
What Does It Look Like?
The programme includes ten structured sessions of Life Story Work tailored to the child’s needs. Sessions
are creative and child-led, using a coherent written narrative of the child’s life. The programme typically
takes the child through the entirety of their history and can cover unknown or difficult topics, filling
information gaps and correcting misconceptions. At the end of the programme, the child receives a Life
Story Book that captures their understanding of their life story.
Carers can also attend Life Story Listening and Life Story Coaching training to learn how to continue
supporting the child’s story at home.
What Does It Look Like in Practice?
Assessment
Initial assessment.
Therapy
Sessions
10 sessions of structured Life Story Work.
Written narrative for adults around the child.
Short Life Story Book at the end of support.
Delivery by certified PPF practitioners supervised by Laura Neal & Kim Matthews
Parent/Carer Guidance
Carer training options in Life Story Listening and Coaching (additional charge).
Review & Report
Regular review and guidance to support progress.
