Life Space Interview

Be self aware. The four questions you should always ask before any intervention are…

• What am I feeling now?
• What does this young person feel, need, or want?
• How is the environment affecting the young person?
• How do I best respond?

*The Life Space Interview or LSI *

Goals of the LSI:

1. Clarify events with/for the young person
2. Repair and restore the relationship with the young person
3. Teach the young person new coping skills
4. Return the young person to normal functioning
5. Reintegrate the young person into the program

LSI Steps – I ESCAPE

I – Isolate* the conversation with the young person so no one other may comment in it
E – Explore the young person’s point of view
S – Summarize verbally the young person’s story of the event and feelings expressed
C – Connect the young person’s feeling to their behaviors
A – Alternative behaviors must be discussed to suggest other, more acceptable ways for the young person to respond in the future
P – Plan or develop one or more new behaviors to be used in similar situations in the future/Practice (role play) that new behavior
E – Enter the young person back into routine