The Science of Safety: Understanding the Foundations of Healing
Safety. It’s a word we often take for granted, but in reality, it is the foundation upon which all healing takes place. When we think of safety, we tend to imagine physical protection—locks on doors, seatbelts, or security systems. But true safety goes much deeper than that. Psychological and physiological safety are the hidden yet crucial elements that determine whether our bodies can heal, whether our minds can regulate, and whether we can fully engage with life. Without safety, the body remains locked in survival mode, perpetuating cycles of stress, dysfunction, and illness.
At the core of understanding safety is the autonomic nervous system, a delicate interplay of neural circuits that constantly assess and respond to our environment. The work of Dr. Stephen Porges and his Polyvagal Theory has illuminated how our nervous system is wired for connection and protection. When we experience ventral vagal activation, we are in a state of calm, trust, and connection—our optimal state for healing, growth, and emotional well-being. But when we are in sympathetic activation (fight or flight) or dorsal vagal shutdown (freeze), our system prioritizes survival over repair, making true healing impossible.
The Role of the Ventral Vagal State in Healing
The ventral vagal state is where we thrive. When we are in this state, our breath is steady, our heart rate is regulated, and our digestion, immune function, and cognitive abilities are all working optimally. We feel engaged with the world, connected to others, and open to new experiences. This is the state in which healing happens—our body receives the message that it is safe, and in response, it begins to repair, restore, and recalibrate.
But for many of us, achieving this state is not so simple. Life experiences—trauma, chronic stress, illness, emotional wounds—can keep us locked in dysregulation. The science of safety teaches us that unless we actively work to create and sustain a state of safety in our nervous system, our body will default to protection rather than healing.
Psychological Safety: The Foundation of Emotional and Mental Well-Being
We are social beings, wired for connection. The moment we enter the world, our nervous system begins learning whether the world is a safe or unsafe place. The quality of our relationships—especially in early life—shapes our ability to regulate our emotions and feel safe in our own skin. This is why psychological safety is not just a luxury; it is a biological necessity.
Psychological safety means feeling secure enough to be ourselves without fear of judgment, rejection, or harm. It is about being seen, heard, and understood, whether in relationships, therapy, or our work environments. Without this sense of safety, our body stays on high alert, constantly scanning for threats—real or imagined. This chronic state of hypervigilance can lead to anxiety, depression, and even chronic health issues.
Working with a skilled therapist can rebuild this sense of safety by creating a co-regulated environment where nervous system states can shift out of protection and into connection. Through psychotherapy, we learn how to re-relate to our past experiences, shift our internal narratives, and develop the tools to regulate our nervous system. If you are struggling with a deep sense of dysregulation, unresolved trauma, or a nervous system that feels constantly “on edge,” psychotherapy can provide the support and tools you need to move towards healing.
Explore my Psychotherapy Services here.
Physiological Safety: The Body’s Invitation to Heal
If psychological safety is about feeling emotionally secure, physiological safety is about giving the body the signals it needs to relax and restore. The body is constantly monitoring for cues of danger and safety through interoception—the brain’s ability to read signals from the body. Chronic stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, and nervous system dysregulation all send the wrong signals, keeping the body in a state of stress rather than repair.
To cultivate physiological safety, we must actively engage in nervous system regulation practices that send the brain and body the message that we are safe. These include:
Breathwork: Long, slow exhalations signal safety to the nervous system, shifting us into a parasympathetic state.
Mindfulness & Meditation: By bringing awareness to the present moment, we reduce activation in the fear-based circuits of the brain.
Cold & Heat Exposure: Practices like contrast therapy (sauna and cold plunges) build vagal tone, increasing resilience to stress.
Movement & Somatic Practices: Gentle, mindful movement—like Yin Yoga or Tai Chi—releases stored tension and trauma from the body.
Social Connection: Safe, meaningful relationships act as co-regulators, helping our nervous system return to balance.
When these practices become part of daily life, they retrain the nervous system to exist in ventral vagal regulation, allowing the body to prioritize healing rather than survival. This is why stress and wellness coaching is invaluable—it helps individuals develop tailored strategies to regulate their nervous system, optimize their health, and create an internal and external environment conducive to healing.
Explore my Stress & Wellness Coaching Services here.
The Practitioner-Patient Relationship: The Lost Art of Holding Healing Spaces
Beyond self-regulation, one of the most profound sources of safety is the relationship between a practitioner and a patient. The words a doctor speaks, the way a practitioner holds space, the feeling a patient gets when they walk into a room—these subtle yet powerful elements shape the healing experience.
Modern medicine has largely lost the art of medicine—the ability to use words, tone, and presence as medicine itself. This is not about false hope or placebo; it is about recognizing that belief, trust, and human connection play a role in recovery. Studies on the placebo effect have shown that patients who believe they will heal activate different biological pathways than those who do not. A patient’s state of mind, their perception of their diagnosis, and their sense of trust in their practitioner all influence healing outcomes.
This is why working with a practitioner who understands the science of safety—who knows how to communicate in a way that fosters hope, trust, and resilience—is so critical. As someone who has walked the path of illness and healing myself, I deeply understand the emotional, physical, and psychological aspects of this journey. My approach combines lived experience, clinical expertise, and a deep understanding of nervous system healing to provide a truly holistic approach to health.
Join Me for Nervous System Mastery: A Deep Dive Into Safety & Healing
For those wanting to explore nervous system regulation, the science of safety, and practical tools for healing, my Nervous System Mastery Online Workshop is coming up this weekend—February 22nd from 9 AM–12 PM AWST.
This 3-hour immersive experience will equip you with the tools to:
✔ Understand how your nervous system drives your health, emotions, and resilience
✔ Regulate your system using breath, movement, and somatic practices
✔ Cultivate both psychological and physiological safety
✔ Build a foundation for long-term healing and well-being
If you are ready to take control of your healing journey, this workshop is for you.
Click here to find out more and reserve your spot.
Final Thoughts: Healing Begins with Safety
True healing cannot happen in a body that feels unsafe. Only when the nervous system receives cues of safety can the body shift out of survival mode and into healing mode. Whether through therapy, nervous system regulation, stress management, or the simple act of being deeply understood by a practitioner, creating safety is the first and most essential step toward healing.
Your body is not broken. It is waiting. The only question is, how long will you wait to give it what it needs?