Week 1: Safety& Foundation

Exercise 1 – Trauma-Informed Safety Assessment

This exercise places you in the role of a thoughtful guide, assessing the safety needs of a child through direct observation and supportive questioning. As a therapist, you lead this process with clarity and firmness to help the child identify both physical and emotional aspects that require attention.

Purpose and Rationale
The goal of this assessment is to identify areas where the child may feel insecure or unsafe. This is not just a list of worries but an organized evaluation that helps the therapist create a tailored plan. By understanding the child’s safety needs early on, you build a foundation for the work that follows.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preparation and Environment Setup

• Quiet Space: Choose a quiet, familiar room that minimizes distractions.
• Comfortable Seating: Ensure both you and the child are seated in a comfortable arrangement that promotes open communication.
• Materials: Gather simple tools such as paper, markers, and a basic checklist that outlines common safety concerns.

1. Initial Engagement

• Open Questions: Begin by asking open-ended questions that allow the child to express their thoughts. For instance:

• “Can you tell me about the places where you feel safe?”
• “What makes you feel secure at home or at school?”

• Active Listening: Use reflective statements to show you understand, such as “It sounds like your room is one of your favorite safe places.”

1. Assessment Techniques

• Observation: Watch for non-verbal cues like body posture, eye contact, and facial expressions. These often reveal feelings that words might not fully express.
• Structured Checklist: Go through a checklist that includes aspects like home safety, school environment, and feelings during social interactions.
• Rating Scale: Ask the child to rate their sense of safety on a simple scale (e.g., 1 to 5). This can be done using visual aids like smiley faces or color-coded cards.

1. Recording and Reflecting

• Documentation: Write down key points, noting both positive responses and areas that require further exploration.
• Feedback Session: Review the responses with the child in simple language, confirming what was shared and setting the stage for further work.

Adaptation for Different Settings

• For Younger Children: Use playful language and simple drawings to illustrate the checklist items.
• For Adolescents: Provide a more detailed scale and invite them to elaborate on their ratings with short written notes.
• For Caregivers: Offer a brief guide on observing and noting similar signs at home, ensuring consistency across settings.

Materials Needed

• Visual rating tools (e.g., smiley face cards)
• Checkl