Unfolding Life Stories
Every child & young person deserves the opportunity to understand their story because understanding their story helps them understand who they are.
Who We Support
Therapeutic Life Story Work is suited to:
Out-of-Home Care
Children and young people in out-of-home care who need support in making sense of their journey.
Trauma & Loss
Those who have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life changes needing therapeutic intervention.
Identity & Story
Children and young people needing help to understand their identity, relationships, and life story.
Our Approach
At Unfolding Life Stories, we believe that every child has a story that deserves to be understood, acknowledged, and valued. Children and young people who have experienced trauma, loss, separation, abuse, neglect, or care experiences can often struggle to make sense of their past and understand how these experiences have shaped their thoughts, feelings, relationships, and behaviours.
Our Life Story Work services provide children and young people with safe, nurturing opportunities to explore their identity, build self-understanding, strengthen relationships, and develop a coherent narrative of their lives.
We offer three levels of Life Story Work and a workshop series, allowing us to meet children and young people where they are emotionally and developmentally.
Our work creates safe opportunities for children and young people to build trusting relationships, explore their stories, make sense of their experiences and develop a stronger understanding of who they are and where they are going.
Understanding Identity
Helping children understand their life experiences and personal stories while strengthening their identity and sense of belonging.
Emotional Safety
Building emotional awareness in a space where young people feel safe, heard and fully supported throughout their journey.
Services We Offer
At Unfolding Life Stories, we provide tailored support for children and young people through All About Me, More About Me, Therapeutic Life Story Work and our workshop experiences.
A Story Through Art
Not every story is told with words. This artwork was created by William Quinn and reflects their personal Therapeutic Life Story Work journey. Thank you for allowing us to share your creativity.
Every story matters
The Journey of Therapeutic Life Story Work
Therapeutic Life Story Work is more than just documenting facts; it is a collaborative process that empowers young people to own their history. By exploring the 'unfolding' of their unique journey, we help them piece together the fragments of their past into a meaningful and coherent whole.
Every child and young person who takes part in Therapeutic Life Story Work has a unique story. While every journey is different, many share a common experience—wanting to understand who they are, where they came from, and how their experiences have shaped them.
The stories shared here have been written with permission by young people who wanted others to know that healing is possible.
Their words are honest, courageous, and deeply personal. They speak about finding answers, making sense of trauma, building identity, and discovering a sense of belonging.
“Before I started Life Story Work, I didn’t have a sense of belonging. I didn’t understand why I had entered care or why my life felt the way it did. Through this journey, I began to unpack my experiences, understand the impact of my trauma, and make sense of my history.
For the first time, I understood myself. I learnt why I coped the way I did and how my experiences had shaped me. Today, I have a much stronger understanding of who I am and how to manage the effects of my trauma.
Life Story Work has given me something I never thought I’d have a sense of belonging within myself. I’m incredibly grateful for Dee, who walked beside me throughout this journey and helped me discover my story.”
— Young Person's Reflection
Understanding your story is the first step towards understanding yourself. Every story deserves to be heard, honoured and explored. We are here to walk alongside children and young people on that journey.
Information for children and young people
Every story matters
If you would like to discuss Therapeutic Life Story Work, All About Me, More About Me, or explore whether this approach is the right fit, I would love to hear from you. You are welcome to make a referral or simply reach out with any questions. Complete the contact form below, and I will be in touch as soon as possible.
Email: deanna@unfoldinglifestories.com
Phone: 0476987076
Sydney South West and surrounding areas.
Unfolding Life Stories provides Therapeutic Life Story Work and identity-focused support across Sydney South West and surrounding areas.
Services can be delivered in a range of settings, depending on the young person’s needs and circumstances, including home, community, education and other agreed environments.
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All content, programs, workshops, resources and materials on this website are the intellectual property of Unfolding Life Stories and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or adapted without prior written permission.
Unfolding Life Stories acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work and connect. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture, community and story
