Review: Hearing Young People Talk About Witnessing Domestic Violence: Exploring Feelings, Coping Strategies and Pathways to Recovery
Leanne Higgins
Monday, June 9, 2014
Susan Collis's book tells the stories of young survivors of domestic violence, finds Deal with DV founder Leanne Higgins.
By Susan Collis
Foreword by Gill Hague
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 978-1-84905-378-5
£19.99
160pp
Author Susan Collis's book is unique because it deals with young people specifically, rather than children, and how domestic violence has affected their lives. It tells the stories of five young people in an in-depth and excellent way.
Knowing a great deal about the topic already, this book didn't offer me much new insight into the subject, but it did make it a lot clearer and it will help me to explain issues to other professionals during training on the topic.
The ideas, story, voices, pathways and coping mechanics for each young person is written about fully and explained clearly.
The book is a great tool for anyone who works with young people, and I can see it being particularly helpful to teachers and social workers.
This book should be available to all secondary schools, youth workers and universities, especially to students who are working with young people in any field, as it gives a complete insight into the young people's lives.
In addition to providing a story that helps you to imagine yourself in each young person's life, it also gives you a detailed insight into their emotions, feelings, thoughts and the way in which they may cope with domestic violence.
It helps to identify warning signs to look out for in young people's experience of domestic violence in the home.
But I would have been interested in hearing a story about a young person experiencing domestic violence in their own relationship, as I think this is another "big grey area" that no one has really tackled.
Other than that, the book is exceptional and a great eye-opener for those who are not familiar with, understand or confident enough to deal with the topic of domestic violence among young people.
I would certainly recommend this book and use it during training with professionals, as it can be incredibly valuable to use real survivor stories as scenarios.
I think it would provide professionals who are perhaps unable to take part in training, or who have been working with young people for a long time, with an insight into what is happening at present with young people affected by domestic violence.
Thank you Susan Collis for taking the time to speak to these survivors and letting their stories be told to help others.
Reviewed by Leanne Higgins, founder, Deal with DV, and managing director, EMBF CIC