Garden Therapy for Trauma: 3 Ways to Rebuild Safety
One of the first things trauma survivors experience is a loss of safety. When we experience verbal, mental, sexual, physical or any form of abuse, that violation is enough to destroy any sense of safety that we had. Trauma can cause us to wonder if we were ever safe in the first place or if we will ever experience safety again.
The response of others may also add to that erosion of safety. If we are not believed, have no one to confide in, or confide in people who do not respond in a way that meets our needs, our feelings of safety can be doubly destroyed. Luckily, garden therapy can help begin to rebuild a sense of safety.
Three ways garden therapy can help rebuild that sense of safety.
Creating a physical safe space
Your garden is a space that is literally the product of your imagination. Create something that grounds you, reassures, you and makes you smile. Whether you are working with one pot, a few containers, or a lush backyard, you can create a space that you of to that makes you feel secure.
Practicing consistency
Your garden will need consistent care. Even if you are caring for slow growers or plants that like to dry out between watering, at least once a day you will want to glance at them, if not for their benefit, for yours. The practice of doing the same thing in a similar way on a regular basis helps rebuild a sense of safety.
Cultivating nurturing relationships
Once of the best ways to get the things that we need is to give them. When a trauma survivor needs to be nurtured, encouraging them to nurture a garden or a plant is a great first step. As they give care, they will start to feel and attract the care that they desire.
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