Can You Read Me? Creative Writing with Child and Adult Victims of Abuse

 Can You Read Me? Creative Writing with Child and Adult Victims of Abuse 
  Edited by Jacki Pritchard and Eric Sainsbury, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
 ISBN 1843101920, £18.95

 STAR RATING: 5/5

Creative writing can give insight into a writer’s thoughts and feelings, and help individuals overcome trauma, writes Helen Howard.

This invaluable guide for anyone who wants to develop their skills in using creative writing with people who have suffered abuse looks at three projects that provide creative writing experiences for children, young people and adults, aged from 10 to 67.

Each example is presented with background information about the writer and the context in which they were writing.

I particularly enjoyed the interviews with the 24 contributing writers that gave a picture of their lives and the important role that writing plays. I found the book completely absorbing and there is nothing I would want to change about it.

Helen Howard is a freelance writer on health and social care and Open University associate lecturer