How to Create Safety After Childhood Trauma

What does safety look and feel like when you didn’t grow up with it?

In this episode, we explore how childhood trauma can shape your inner world and nervous system—and what it takes to begin cultivating safety from the inside out. You’ll learn practical, trauma-informed strategies like grounding practices, self-assessment tools, and parts work to help you reconnect with your body, trust your intuition, and build supportive boundaries over time.

We also look at the bigger picture—how systemic and relational dynamics, including privilege, identity, and toxic relationships, affect your sense of emotional and psychological safety. Because safety isn’t just an internal state—it’s also shaped by the world around us.

Whether you’re just beginning your healing journey or deepening the work, this episode offers gentle reminders, reflection prompts, and practices to help you grow toward greater empowerment, safety, and connection.

Mentioned episodes and articles:

• Five Effective Trauma Counselling Strategies: 
  https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/five-effective-trauma-counselling-techniques/
• Polyvagal Theory and Trauma:
  https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/understanding-polyvagal-theory-and-trauma/
• Understanding the Window of Tolerance: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/understanding-the-window-of-tolerance/
• Get your free copy of Toxic Relationships 101:
  https://brighthorizontherapies.com/unhealthy-relationships-guide/
• Assess your boundaries with the Healthy Boundaries Quiz:
  https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healthy-boundary-quiz/

Learn more about us: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
Message us: nat@brighthorizontherapies.com

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. We acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of our work.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:39 Dimensions of Safety with Self-reflection
• 12:20 Self-assessment to Increase Safety
• 15:52 Polyvagal Theory as a Pathway to Safety
• 18:39 Practice to Explore the States of Your Nervous System
• 21:20 Practices to Reconnect With Safety and Connection
• 25:42 Affirmations to Increase Safety
• 27:43 Befriending Parts that Feel Unsafe
• 30:15 Increasing Safety by Strengthening Your Boundaries
• 33:44 Summary