Today I have been reading an article from the Counselling Psychology Review: Young people’s accounts of homelessness: A case study analysis of psychological well-being and identity. It interested me because it refers to a real loss of identity and person-hood felt by the homeless young people in the case study. The psychological implications of homelessness included feeling isolated, rejected, alienated and lacking emotional attachment to or identification with places and people. One key issue was of course a lack of somewhere safe psychologically for their thoughts and emotions.
It would be amazing to work with young people who are homeless and are just getting back on their feet, a couple of ideas include the emotional back-pack. Ask the volunteers to think about what they would put in a backpack emotionally to survive on the streets, support, people to talk to, somewhere to feel safe etc.
Glad you like it S
ReplyDelete