Safety and Therapy

As therapists, we often believe we are doing the right thing. Most of us go into the field to help others and have good intentions. Despite this truth, when working with trauma we are often met with mistrust, skepticism, and sometimes even hostility. What I think many therapists forget is that if you treat people, you will come across complex trauma survivors. Often times exactly those who were supposed to protect, were actually the ones who harmed. Not only that, some survivors have experienced abuse and trauma in therapy. 

With that in mind, we must establish safety first. We must help survivors feel safe, before asking them to trust us and sometimes that takes time. Sometimes quite a long time. 

If you are a survivor and you have a difficult time trusting therapists, I get it. I understand. Why would you trust so easily when you have been so wounded in the past? Complex trauma is different than being in an accident or a natural disaster. Complex trauma means being wounded by other human beings, so it makes complete sense that you wouldn’t trust us therapists. 

At Safe Haven TS, we work to establish safety from the first session. We don’t expect you to come in trusting and willing to step right into a relationship with us. Instead, we work to create safety in the room; in the therapeutic relationship.