questions toolkit.docx · web view“the purpose of this initial discussion is to introduce the...

Identity Toolkit: How to ……….

A Lemos&Crane workbook, 2010

Contents

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Discussion Topic Page

1. Introducing the Identity Toolkit 3

2. Inherited Identities 6

3. Chosen Identities 10

4. Strengthening Positive Identity 15

5. Tackling Negative Aspects of Identity 18

6. Thinking about the Future 21

7. Next Steps 24

Discussion 1: Introducing the Identity Toolkit

YOU SAY...

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“The purpose of this initial discussion is to introduce the toolkit as a way of encouraging you to reflect on how you see yourself, how others see you, the things about your identity that you value or feel proud of and the things you want to change.

The idea is that everyone has more than one identity and we can choose which aspects of ourselves we want to emphasise and develop and also choose which aspects of themselves we want to reduce or leave behind.

Having a positive sense of your own identity will help to build confidence to do new things and change your life as well as making you more resilient in dealing with disappointments and setbacks.”

Questions Answers

1. How would you describe yourself in no more than a few lines?

2. How do you think other people might describe you? Would it be different to your own description? If so, in what ways?

3. If you’re not sure about how others might see you, why don’t you ask a few people, no more than 2 or 3? Make sure they are people you like and trust and whose opinions you value. Ask them for positive things first, and then for negative ones. Make a note of what they say and see if different people say different things. Don’t be anxious about feedback, you may be pleasantly surprised and even if people make negative comments, you don’t have to agree with them, but there are things you might learn from them. Often, if you ask people for feedback about you, they will also ask you for feedback about them, which can be interesting too. Don’t worry about asking the people who don’t like you. You probably already know what they think – or you could guess!

Feedback From What they said

Person 1 Positive:

Negative:

Person 2 Positive:

Negative:

Person 3 Positive:

Negative:

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Reflections and Review

Question Answer

1. Are there key points, new insights or ideas that have stuck in your mind from this discussion?

Key points / insights / ideas:

2. Is there any action you intend to take as a result?

Actions:

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Support Worker Name:

Service User Name:

Discussion 2: Inherited Identities

“The purpose of this second discussion is to look at aspects of your past which have had an influence on how you are now and how you see yourself now. Some of these things will be positive and some will be negative. The discussion begins with a review of the previous discussion.”

Afterthoughts and Review of Last Discussion – Introducing the Identity Toolkit

Questions Answers

1. How did you feel about the last discussion?

2. Have you had any reflections or insights since the last discussion about relationships?

3. Did you take any action as a result of our last discussion?

4. If so, how did it go? Did you learn anything from it about yourself or about how you should act in the future?

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YOU SAY…

Questions

Questions Answers Support Worker’s Comments

1. Who from your past are the people who have influenced the way you see the world and the way you see yourself?

2. Note down the events about, or ideas from, your past which you think have contributed to the way you see yourself and the way others see you. (e.g. moving to another town, city or country; moving in with a partner)

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3. Note down the things about your family history that you think have contributed to the way you feel about and see yourself and the way others see you. Go back as far as you can remember, even to previous generations if you can remember that far or have been told about it.

4. Are there other aspects of what you feel you have inherited that may have contributed to who you are, for example the place your family came from originally and the impact it has had on your culture and attitudes, if say you are Irish or Indian, or whatever?

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Question Answer




Actions:

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Service User Name:

Discussion 3: Chosen Identities

“The purpose of this discussion is to reflect on the decisions and choices you have made and how they have contributed to the way you see yourself and the way others see you.”

Afterthoughts and Review of Last Discussion – Inherited Identities

Questions Answers


6. Have you had any reflections or insights since the last discussion about relationships?

7. Did you take any action as a result of our last discussion?

8. If so, how did it go? Did you learn anything from it about yourself or about how you should act in the future?

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YOU SAY…

Questions


5. Note down the big decisions or choices you have taken in your life e.g. if you’ve moved to another country or another part of the UK, going to college or university, jobs you’ve taken, interests you’ve taken up, groups you have joined. Note down the decisions that have not turned out as well as well as those that turned out better.

6. Note down the impact of each of these decisions, choices and events in changing how you see yourself

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Suggested Activity

Steps Activity Example

Step 1 Draw a line which represents your life so far. _____________________________________

Step 2 Mark with a number on that line the decisions that you identified from the previous questions. Each number reflects the main choice or decision you have made.

____1____2____3____4____5____6___

For Example: 1 = leaving home and going to live in Manchester2 = completing my apprenticeship and getting a job3 = moving in with my first girlfriend4 = losing my job5 = retraining as a chef, but not completing the course6 = leaving my girlfriend and having to move into a hostel after being homeless

Step 3 Now extend the line with a dotted line for the future. ____1____2____3____4____5____6_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Step 4 Note for the future three or four things that you would like to achieve. ____1____2____3____4____5____6_ _ 7_ _ 8_ _ 9_ _ 10 _ _ _ _

For example:7 = renew contact with my sister and my grandma8 = volunteer in a charity cafe nearby9 = find somewhere permanent to live10 = learn to drive

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Step 5 Now draw a line with ups and downs to reflect positive and negative changes.

Draw your line of life:

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Question Answer




Actions:

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Service User Name:

Discussion 4: Strengthening Positive Identity

“This discussion focuses on encouraging you to think about the things about yourself of which you are proud or you value – and things you can do to strengthen those feelings of pride.”

Afterthoughts and Review of Last Discussion – Chosen Identities

Questions Answers

How did you feel about the last discussion?

Have you had any reflections or insights since the last discussion about relationships?

Did you take any action as a result of our last discussion?

If so, how did it go? Did you learn anything from it about yourself or about how you should act in the future?

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YOU SAY…

Questions Questions Answers Support Worker’s Comments

Think of three things about your identity – the way you see yourself – that you value and want to hold on to, for example where you come from, your religious beliefs, your interests or hobbies.

Think of two or three ways of strengthening things about yourself that you feel proud of, or put value on. For example, could you spend more time on your interests, perhaps learning more skills and developing your interest in greater depth? Are there groups you could join or people you could get to know?


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Question Answer

Are there key points, new insights or ideas that have stuck in your mind from this discussion?


Is there any action you intend to take as a result?

Actions:

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Service User Name:

Discussion 5: Tackling Negative Aspects of Identity

“The purpose of this discussion is to encourage you to reflect on aspects of your identity which might make you see yourself negatively, or have a negative impact on the way that other people see you, particularly your behaviour and the company you keep. Also, to encourage you to think about ways in which you can change your behaviour, or the company you keep or other negative aspects of your identity.”

Afterthoughts and Review of Last Discussion – Strengthening Positive Identity

Questions Answers


10.Have you had any reflections or insights since the last discussion about relationships?

11.Did you take any action as a result of our last discussion?

12.If so, how did it go? Did you learn anything from it about yourself or about how you should act in the future?

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YOU SAY…

Questions


7. Think of three things about the way you see yourself or about the way others see you that you feel it would be good to try to change, for example, your behaviour (maybe you get angry too easily or you drink too much), your appearance or the people you associate with.

i.

ii.

iii.

10.Think of two or three actions you could take to combat negative aspects of how you see yourself or how others see you. For example, could you change your behaviour or habits? Could you change the company you keep? Could you get to know new people? Could you take up new activities or interests?

i.

ii.

iii.

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Question Answer




Actions:

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Service User Name:

Discussion 6: Thinking about the Future

“The purpose of this discussion is to encourage you to start thinking about how you want to see yourself in the future.”

Afterthoughts and Review of Last Discussion – Tackling Negative Aspects of Identity

Questions Answers

13.How did you feel about the last discussion?

14.Have you had any reflections or insights since the last discussion about relationships?

15.Did you take any action as a result of our last discussion?

16.If so, how did it go? Did you learn anything from it about yourself or about how you should act in the future?

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YOU SAY…

Questions


Now look back at how you described yourself in the first discussion. Check if your description reflects the things you value and the things you want to change.

If not, think about and note down how you would like to see yourself and how you would like other people to see you.

Express yourself in any way you feel comfortable – words, a poem, pictures or a diagram.

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Question Answer



10.Is there any action you intend to take as a result?

Actions:

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Service User Name:

Discussion 7: Next Steps

“The purpose of this discussion is action planning. The idea is that you should plan things which you want to do which are not just general long term aspirations, but specific actions you want to take in the foreseeable future.

Bearing in mind all the previous discussions’ identify three actions that you now want to take. Try to make them as specific and realistic as possible. Try also to set a deadline by which you want to achieve them. So don’t say ‘pass my driving test’’ do say: ‘book three driving lessons before the end of March’.

You might also want to identify if you need any one’s help.”

What I'm going to do What help I need When I'm going to do it by

1.

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YOU SAY…

2.

3.

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questions toolkit.docx · web view“the purpose of this initial discussion is to introduce the...

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