ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the first of SAMHSA’s six trauma-informed principles – safety. The essential nature of safety will be underscored as it relates to working with trauma survivors. An experience of safety alone can be therapeutic for trauma survivors as trauma inherently robs one of a sense of safety. Strategies for cultivating safety will be offered including practical suggestions and examples from the author’s clinical experience. Containment, consent, physical touch, group rules, clinical contracting, confidentiality, mutual respect, and boundaries will be covered. Attention will also be given to the varying contexts and levels of care that services are provided as it relates to safety before, during, and after the group process. The development of safety in group work and psychodrama work will be addressed. Maintaining safety for staff members is also important as it impacts the quality of their work and employees’ ability to self-regulate. A clinical vignette on establishing safety after trauma is included to depict the power of psychodrama.
