How to Create 12 Multisensory Safe Spaces in Mind, Body, and Spirit

Life is stressful, so having safe spaces is essential. Having a back-up plan of safe spaces is very helpful when you’re in a potentially de-stabilizing situation. Having safe people and safe spaces can be very helpful, but not always realistic. So, when external safe spaces are not available, here’s how to create 12 multisensory safe spaces for internal safety & stability.

Important: This article has resources about restoring wellness, and is based on my research and my experiences. This information is not meant to take the place of counseling or therapy. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or need to talk to someone, wellness resources can help you find a counselor and other resources that may be helpful.

Disclaimer: Please note that this blog contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase through these links, the price will be the same for you. And I’ll receive a small commission that helps support my blog and my family. Hope you have a blessed day!

What is Safety?

First, to get a bigger picture of safety, what’s does unsafe usually mean?

Unsafe = fear, danger, risk, harm

So, fear would be opposite of feeling safe. I am usually afraid when I am in danger, or feel like I am in potential danger.

Being around toxic people, conflict interactions, and tense environments can seem potentially dangerous and risky.

De-stabilizing situations can cause a person’s reaction to spiral, increasing in anxiety, triggers, fear, addictive patterns, and unhelpful behaviors.

So, now let’s tackle what safety usually means:

Safe = protected, unharmed, secure,

Being in a safe environment
Having safe people around you
Making safe choices

Having an inner peace of safety and stability
Feeling comfortable to be yourself
Having confidence to follow your dreams

Now that we understand what safety is, we can focus on how to create safety.

Back-Up Plans

I came away from a Sandtray Therapy training with a playlist of our favorite anthem songs. These songs lift me up, give me hope and stability, and surround me with safety. These songs are now part of my back-up plan to lift me up when I’m in a de-stabilizing situation.

This reminds me of how Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step Addiction Recovery Groups focus on always having a back-up plan. So, when a recovering alcoholic is feeling tempted, their back-up plan includes having 10 people ready to call to help them.

It’s important that these 10 people give encouragement, hope, and a reason to stay on track.

Just like back-up plans give:

Support
Hopefulness
A way to stay safe

Moms Carry Back-Up Clothes

How many moms carry back-up clothes for their little ones in their diaper bag? The back-up clothes sure come in handy when your little one gets all messy and suddenly has to change.

Having a back-up plan is like having an extra set of clothes to wear when you spill coffee all over you. Back-up plans can help when you’re feeling unsure, surprised, or scared.

Unique Multisensory Safe Spaces

Check out these 12 ways to create safe spaces, each with specific examples and ideas. Then maybe you will be able to find ways to create your own personalized safe space.

In the list below, there are style attributes in parenthesis ( ) listed next to each safe space, These attributes describe different learning styles and unique qualities people prefer. Sometimes, people need a coping skill that matches their learning style or unique preference.

Multisensory approaches can meet people’s unique needs, offering specific coping skills for different situations.

Multisensory approaches:

Mind/thoughts
Body/kinesthetic
Spirit/spiritual/mindfulness
Heart/emotions
Auditory/music
Verbal/auditory
Sensory/touch
Nature/spiritual/kinesthetic

Other times, it can help to try something new, especially if you’re in a dry spiritual season of life. Life transitions bring new changes and a need for learning new coping skills.

Create 12 Multisensory Safe Spaces in Mind, Body, and Spirit

May these coping skills bring you peace, safety, and stability to move forward and grow on your journey of life.

1. Playlist of Songs: empowering(music/auditory, spiritual/mindfulness)

Start with 1 favorite song, add a 2nd inspiring song, add a 3rd comforting song
Sing out loud, helps gain mastery and empower confidence
Write the words out to your favorite 3 songs, these are your theme songs

2. Affirmations (mind/mindfulness, verbal, auditory)

Empowering Affirmations
Kind Affirmations
Positive Affirmations
Self-Compassion Breaks

3. Body movement = Symmetry moves, bi-lateral stimulation (body/kinesthetic, spiritual/mindfulness)

Walking, moving each leg and each arm
Hug – give yourself a hug, wrap your arms around your chest & shoulders, tap your shoulders, squeeze yourself withlove
Yoga poses — Child’s pose

4. Go outside (sensory, spiritual/mindfulness)

Touch a tree
Feel the air/wind
Sit in the sunshine

5. Meditations (mind, spiritual/mindfulness, verbal, auditory)

Apps — Hearing a calm voice lead you through a meditation
Affirmations– reading them out loud to yourself
Self-Compassion Affirmations– read & write them for yourself

Insight Timer app

Calm app

6. Grounding (spiritual/mindfulness)

Grounding steps – intentionally walk, firmly place each foot on the ground
Feet on the ground/floor – Place your feet firmly on the floor, being present
Sit on the ground/floor– Feel the ground beneath your seat

7. Body Scan (body, mindfulness)

Notice tense & relaxed parts of your body
Start at your head and work your down towards your feet.
Moves your thoughts focusing on your body and gets the thoughts out of the cycle stuck in your head.

8. YouTube: Meditation Relax Music (auditory/music, spiritual/mindfulness)

Watch calming scenes of nature
Hear beautiful calm music
Relax your mind and emotions
Signing bowls
Flowing water

9. Hands-on activities: both hands (kinesthetic/body)

Knitting
Cross-stitch
Painting
Play dough
Baking
Draw with the opposite hand

10. Mini Nature (outdoors/spiritual) (sensory/touch, spiritual/mindfulness)

Stones, gems, rocks, sea shells – feel how smooth, calming
Tea lights, candles, string of lights– see the light and feel hope
Mini-sandtray, Zen sandtray– touch the sand, be present

11. Visual Encouragement (visual, kinesthetic/writing)

Write down encouragement on color note cards
Hopeful Scriptures
Positive Affirmations
Visual sketches

12. Comforting objects (sensory)

Weighted blanket
Shawl
Energy bracelets
Miniatures

What Creates Safety for You?

So, why not come up with list of resources that create safety. Start with familiar resources that feel safe, empower hope, and encourage you. Then brainstorm ways that could be calming, kind and caring to yourself.

Real Life Application:

Considering the 12 Multisensory Safe Spaces:

Which is the most helpful?
What resources help you feel safe?
How does these resources help you feel calm?
What resources help create a comfortable space for you?
Which resources empower you and help you feel confident?
What fills you with hope and inner peace?
Which safe space are you the most likely to use?

Write these items down, you’ll be more likely to remember them and actually use them.

How was this information helpful?

I hope these 12 Multisensory Safe Space ideas are helpful for you, creating a sense of safety and peace right when you need it. If this information is helpful, please share it with a friend.

I’d love to hear from you and how these 12 safe spaces help you.

Join the Wellness Tribe

I’d love to hear about your journey towards wellness! What obstacles are in your way towards wellness? What helps you gain wellness?

I hope you join us on your journey of improving your wellness. This tribe is a gathering place to improve wellness & connections, receive life-giving coping skills, and restore health in mind, body, and spirit.

Join the Moore Wellness Tribe

I’d love to hear from you, please leave me a comment, or join me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Blessings,
Beth