The Tree of Life is a psychosocial support tool based on Narrative Practices. It is a tool that uses different parts of a tree as metaphors to represent different aspects of life. The use of metaphors and carefully formulated questions invites children to tell stories about their lives in ways that make them stronger and more hopeful about the future.

The tool allows children severely affected by HIV and AIDS, poverty and conflict to tell, hear, and explore stories of loss without remaining trapped in expressions of grief and bereavement. It simultaneously opens up spaces and opportunities to tell, hear and explore stories of hope, shared values, connection to those around them as well as to those who have died.

The Tree of Life has been used to support children through their day-to-day experiences in their families and communities. This makes the tool very relevant in social settings where children spend their time, for example, in community-based children’s clubs.

The details of the Tree of Life training can be taken from the REPSSI training manual Tree of Life (see Ncube-Mlilo & Denborough, 2007)