SAFE SPACE
The Safe Space Imagery concept is attributed to Joanne H. Twombly. https://joannetwombly.net/
Visualizing a safe space is incredibly valuable, especially when you're navigating the complex terrain of trauma recovery and engaging in Parts Work.
Here's why it's such a important tool:
Imagine having a mental sanctuary that's just yours, where you're completely safe, especially when those tough memories or emotions surface. It's like a safe harbor during a storm.
In this safe and comforting mental space, you're more likely to feel comfortable delving into different aspects of your psyche. It's like having a supportive environment for a heart-to-heart chat with yourself.
This space acts as a grounding anchor, helping you to stabilize and balance your emotions during times of stress or anxiety.
Steps to Visualize a Safe Space
Start by finding a quiet and comfortable place where you won't be disturbed.
Engage in deep breathing or relaxation techniques to calm your body and mind.
Visualize a place where you feel completely safe and at peace. This could be a real or imaginary place.
Integrate all senses into your visualization. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of your safe space.
Add elements that bring you comfort, like specific colors, objects, or even the presence of a comforting figure or pet. As you look around, find items that bring you feelings of safety and calm and remember you can also remove an item if it isn’t serving you sense of safety.
Focus on the feeling of safety and comfort that space provides. Allow yourself to feel protected and at ease.
You can visit your safe space whenever you want. Spend time in your safe space, especially during moments of distress or before engaging in Parts Work.
Feel free to modify your safe space over time as your needs and preferences change.
If you are doing Parts work, utilize your safe space as a starting point for exercises, such as dialoguing with different parts of yourself. Your parts want to feel safe too.
After each visit, take some time to reflect on your experience and any insights or feelings that may have come up.
Remember, the process of visualizing a safe space is highly personal and can be adapted to fit your unique needs and preferences.
Although I provide you with examples of safe spaces, remember this is YOUR safe space. It can be anywhere, anything, any way that allows you to feel safe, protected and calm. You can add a protective force field around your safe space, or create a password for entry, or install a security system. You can have friendly, protective dogs guarding. You can install sound and feeling proof walls to protect younger parts or parts that are not ready yet to hear specific emotions or memories of older parts.
Examples:
Cozy Mountain Cabin: Picture a snug cabin nestled in the mountains, surrounded by towering trees and the quiet of nature. Inside, there's a comforting fireplace, plush furnishings, and a feeling of being completely removed from the outside world.
A Lush Garden Oasis: Envision a vibrant garden filled with your favorite flowers, plants, and trees. The air is fresh and filled with the scent of blooming flowers. You can hear birds chirping and the gentle rustle of leaves, creating an atmosphere of natural harmony.
A Peaceful Lakeside Retreat: Imagine a calm, beautiful lakeside setting where the water is crystal clear and the surroundings are tranquil. Here, you can sit by the water’s edge, immerse yourself in the stillness of nature, and feel a deep sense of peace and solitude. This place can be a real location you've visited, a blend of various calming places, or even a creation of your imagination.
An Imaginary Realm or Planet: Create an entirely new space in your imagination, free from the constraints of reality. This could be a fantasy landscape, a peaceful alien planet, or a realm of your own design. Here, you have the freedom to create a place that perfectly suits your needs for safety and tranquility. Imagine a planet where every element is tailored to your comfort and well-being, from the climate to the landscape, and even the creatures that inhabit it.
Below I shared a few “safe spaces” that I visualized for myself. I love Art and Writing, Creatives and learning. Exploring these spaces bring calm and a feeling of stability to me. I then created the safe spaces in Google Slides to use as examples for the website.
Some of us may find it difficult to visualize a safe space, if that is the case, you might consider drawing your safe space or using google slides and creating your very own safe space that you can change, add to, and remove objects as you want.
GOOGLE SLIDE SAFE SPACE INSTRUCTIONS:
Start by opening a new presentation in Google Slides.
Select a blank slide template for a clean canvas.
Click on "Insert" in the top menu, then select "Image" and choose "Search the web." This opens a sidebar for image searches.
- For room backgrounds, type in keywords like "cozy room background" or "peaceful bedroom."
- For nature scenes, try searches like "forest background," "beachside view," or "tranquil woods."
- For something more fantastical, search for "planet backgrounds" or "imaginary landscapes."
Once you find an image you like, click on it and select "Insert." Right-click on the image and choose "Set as background" to cover the entire slide.
Again, click on "Insert" then "Image" and "Search the web" to find PNG or transparent background objects. Look for items that evoke safety and comfort for you. This could be anything from a comfortable chair, a pet, a favorite book, to more abstract items like a shield or a light.
Drag and position these elements around your slide to create a sense of safety and comfort. You can resize them and place them wherever you feel they fit best in your safe space.
If you wish, add text to your slide to label your safe space or include affirmations and comforting words. Click on the "Text box" button in the toolbar to create a space for writing.
Once you're satisfied with your creation, save your slide. You can revisit and modify your safe space anytime you need it.
Remember, this is your personal space, so feel free to be as creative or as simplistic as you like. The goal is to create an image that brings you a sense of peace and safety.
When visualizing your safe space, look around and see what brings you a feeling of safety, calm and peace. Feel free to add whatever works for you and remove something that doesn’t help create the safe feelings.