Safety Planning
What Is a Safety Plan?
A safety plan is a customized, practical plan that addresses multiple stages of surviving an abusive relationship; it contains ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave an abusive relationship.
A good safety plan is concise yet contains all critical information. It should be tailored to your unique situation and address a variety of potential circumstances.
Although when you first construct your safety plan some of the elements may seem obvious, when you are in a threatening situation, stress can overtake your thoughts and actions. Seemingly logical, easy decisions become challenging; this is partly due to the neurobiological responses of the body to traumatic events. Having an established safety plan in advance can make an incredibly stressful time a bit more manageable.