Positive narratives: the stories young people with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD) tell about their futures

This research drew on positive psychology in order to offer an optimistic way of
conceptualising the lives of young people who are often described as having ‘SEBD’
(Social, emotional, behaviour difficulties), now SEMH (Social, emotional, mental
health) in the new SEND Code of Practice (2014). Positive psychology places emphasis
on: the future, strengths, resources and potential, and suggests that negative
experiences can build positive qualities. A life path tool was used in order to hear the
stories that eight young people tell about themselves in the future. Narrative
Oriented Inquiry (NOI) was used to analyse the themes of potential and growth in their
stories. The young people in this research identified a range of strengths and resources
in their lives that they had built as a result of earlier negative experiences. Their stories
reveal their hopes and aspirations for the future. By giving these young people the
opportunity to tell their stories this research permitted them to focus on where they
were going, rather than where they had been.