Trauma Informed Care – Pillar 1: Safety

I remember playing laser tag and paintball in my recent/ not so recent years and one of the key words used to ensure safety was ‘marshal’.  Upon calling that word out, everything was to stop to check on the person who called out this term.  It was intended to keep the integrity of the game along with the personal safety of each participant.  Such power in one word that when spoken, everything would stop, and an outside non-involved entity would intervene for the sake of personal safety.  It was an agreed upon role from all participants at the beginning of play. 

The metaphor can be extended to our vulnerable childhood states and our now adult states.  Trauma informed therapy comes with its own understanding that safety is key.  For some of us experiencing trauma, safety may be a foreign and even intimidating concept.  We couldn’t just say ‘marshal’ when we were being exposed to threats or dysregulation.  In fact, some of may have the experience of not having permission to seek this kind of safety or support.  Unexamined in our early life, this can perpetuate into our adult life and make the others experience of us unsafe. 

The etymology of safety points to the essence of what safety is.  A quick search of safe in the etymology dictionary yields the idea of ‘protected, watched over’.  Going to the word safety we yield ‘freedom or immunity from harm or danger’.  In the trauma informed perspective, safety is the physical environment and how it keeps one safe and its also psychological safety.  The nervous system responds to both and having neither or one without the other can create further harm.

Environmentally this may look like clear exit and entries, seating arrangements, lighting, and background noise.   This is not an exhaustive consideration and there may be others that the person we are serving bring to our attention.  Responding with care and meeting them where they are to create the safety helps the nervous system respond appropriately.  In an heightened state, the environment is the first thing to be scanned for perceptions of danger and there are various emotional responses to what may initially be thought of as neutral by the environment holder.   Adjusting the environment and making appropriate changes is responding to the other calling out ‘marshal’.

Psychological safety is another component.  Our mirror neurons are powerful and regulating one’s own self during high stress of the other sends a signal of safety and security.  Additional consideration could involve the energy one is bringing into the room and being honest with oneself about their own regulation.  Therapists are human too and dysregulation of a nervous system in a therapist is a real thing.  Throughout formal education and the apprenticeship of supervision, therapists are reminded to be aware of their countertransference (or projection) and to do what is right for their own regulation and healing.  It is not specifically stated, and for understandable reasons, but a therapist as a patient in therapy with another therapist can help nurture the safety of the professional and the relationship with other clients. 

Safety, in the trauma informed perspective, is to watch over in a skillful and compassionate way while woundings are identified and processed.  Safety is also defining and holding to the boundaries of the therapeutic space.  Without boundaries, there is no safety or healing.  Parts of the therapeutic work can feel overwhelming and fearful and unsafe.  However, with evidence of safety and co-regulation, the safety becomes easier to breathe into and utilize.  Our woundings can create a narrative of an unsafe world.  This is an effect of the trauma event and experience.  Learning to gently and with compassion challenge this narrative is part of the process.