Taking up one's worries : A handbook on early dialogues

Abstract

The objective of this handbook is to lower the threshold for early intervention for practitioners working among children and adolescents. In situations where attempts at providing help continue unchanged, the practitioner may become worried about the child’s or adolescent’s wellbeing. Indeed, the professional may feel the need for additional resources to help resolve the problem. How should a professional express his or her worries in order to create fruitful co-operation? The anticipation method for taking up worries has been developed in co-operation with psychosocial and educational professionals. It is based on requesting the parent’s help and co-operation in diminishing the professional’s worries; the tone of the conversation is different when other people are not defined as problematic, which also opens up a perspective for long-term dialogue. The concepts of worry and respectful early intervention are clarified through so-called zones of worry, which facilitate the assessment of the available possibilities and co-operation needs. The handbook is intended for all professionals working among children and adolescents. In particular, it is drafted for professionals in basic services such as day-care personnel, nurses at schools, prenatal clinics, child health clinic, as well as school personnel. The handbook may also prove useful for professionals providing specialized services.