Establishing safety and stabilization in traumatized youth: Clinical implications for play therapists.

Abstract

The relevance of a phase-based treatment approach has recently been discussed in the youth complex trauma literature. In this approach, the first phase emphasizes safety and stabilization, which is often revisited throughout treatment. Clients can present with any number of safety concerns, including poor self-care, high-risk behaviors, revictimization, and dissociation. These issues can impede treatment if play therapists fail to understand them. The authors of this article aim to highlight the safety and stabilization stage of complex trauma treatment, discuss the significant role of safety and stabilization in treatment, and provide play-based interventions for this first phase of treatment.