From Mandy Davis, Trauma Informed Oregon, February 6, 2020
Why is Safety Important?
As many of you know, it is important to me that I know why I am doing something. When I know why, I can modify and innovate to best meet my practice. So why is safety important in TIC? I realize that this may seem like a simple question and often people say, “Well, safety is important because a survivor has experienced so much harm so it is hard for them to feel safe.” But why is the sense of safety even necessary—or is it necessary—to show up to school, to go to a doctor’s visit, or to get on a bus. Is the goal to feel safe or is the goal to not experience fear—or is this the same thing?
For me, safety is a critical component because of the physiological response when we feel unsafe (e.g., feel fear) and how this impairs our ability to engage by focusing our internal resources to reduce the perceived threat. I also see many of the other TIC principles (e.g., transparency, choice, collaboration, empowerment, historical context) being in service to creating safety.
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