Imagine your ideal therapy session.

• What qualities would your therapist possess that would make you feel safe? (e.g., warmth, active listening, non-judgment, consistency, empathy)

• What would you need to feel comfortable being completely open and honest? (e.g., clear boundaries, a sense of privacy, feeling understood, permission to go at your own pace)

Stepping into therapy can feel vulnerable, and it's natural to wonder if you'll truly be heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. This is where psychological safety comes in – it's the bedrock of effective therapy and, frankly, the foundation for thriving in any relationship or environment.

What is Psychological Safety?

At its core, psychological safety means feeling safe enough to:

• Be yourself: Bring your authentic thoughts, feelings, and experiences without fear of negative consequences, shame, or ridicule.

• Take risks: Explore new ideas, challenge old patterns, and try out different ways of being, knowing that it's okay to make mistakes or not have all the answers.

• Speak up: Share difficult emotions, express doubts, ask "silly" questions, or disagree, confident that your voice will be respected.

• Be vulnerable: Open up about your deepest fears, insecurities, and past wounds, trusting that this space is confidential, non-judgmental, and supportive.

Psychological Safety: Feeling Safe to Be You

“In our therapeutic space, my primary goal is to cultivate this kind of safety. It means I am committed to listening deeply, validating your experiences, maintaining strict confidentiality, and providing a consistent, predictable, and empathetic environment where you can freely explore, heal, and grow. It's about creating a space where you feel secure enough to do the challenging work of self-discovery and change.” —Sarah Jacks

Exploring Your Sense of Psychological Safety

To help you reflect on psychological safety, consider these brief exercises:

The "Safe Space" Inventory

Think about a time or a place in your life where you felt truly safe – whether it was with a particular person, in a specific environment, or even during an activity.

• What did that feel like in your body? (e.g., relaxed shoulders, calm breath, open posture)

• What cues told you it was safe? (e.g., the person listened without interrupting, you felt seen, there was a sense of acceptance, you weren't afraid of being judged)

• What were you able to do or say in that safe space that you might not otherwise? (e.g., share a secret, cry openly, express a controversial opinion, ask for help)

Reflecting on Vulnerability

Consider a time when you felt vulnerable with someone.

• What was the outcome? Did it go well, or did it feel like a misstep?

• If it went well, what made it safe enough to be vulnerable?

• If it didn't go well, what cues signaled that it wasn't a psychologically safe environment for that vulnerability? (e.g., dismissal, judgment, gossip, unsolicited advice, defensiveness)

We can discuss your responses and any questions you have about psychological safety during our initial consultation.