Resources

If someone in your family has experienced trauma, don't be afraid to reach out for help. You can call your insurance company and ask for a list of providers in your area or search in the resources listed below for a trauma-focused trained therapist near you. Other resources are listed with more information to support the mental health needs of your child or student.

How to Create a Safety Sanctuary

You can create a safety sanctuary in your heart to visit when you’re feeling sad, upset, angry, or worried. With the help of a trusted adult, try practicing the following steps:

Relax: Practice feeling calm and peaceful. Find a safe space where you can calm your body and mind through deep breathing, sitting still, and noticing how your body feels. Imagine your favorite place in your mind and use all five senses to visualize it.
Find coping tools that work for you: Take a deep breath, sing a happy song, draw your feelings, think of your favorite place, talk about your feelings, listen to music, play outside, practice your favorite hobby, or anything else that helps you feel better.
Talk about it: Talk to a trusted adult about your feelings. Sometimes we show one feeling on the outside but feel another one on the inside. Sometimes we even feel two or more feelings at once. Practice talking about how you’re feeling with someone you trust. You can draw these feelings or color them too.