Creating Safe Spaces in Therapy

Caitlin Houghton
Jun 24
3 min read

What safety really looks and feels like—for kids, teens, and adults.

At Grow Allied Health, we believe that feeling safe is the foundation for any meaningful progress in therapy. Whether someone is coming to us for speech, OT, counselling, or AHA support, the same principle holds true: people grow best when they feel safe, seen, and respected.

Safety is more than just making sure the environment is physically comfortable. It’s about creating emotional, sensory, relational, and cultural safety too. It’s about giving people the freedom to show up just as they are—no masks, no pressure to be someone they’re not.

So what does that actually look like in a therapy session? Here’s how we think about it.

1. Choice is always respected

One of the simplest ways we build safety is by offering real choices. Not just the appearance of choice—but actual, meaningful opportunities to say yes, no, or not right now.

This means:

Checking in before starting a new activity
Letting clients know they can opt out or take a break
Offering choices around where to sit, how to communicate, or what tools to use
Respecting when a child doesn’t want to engage in a certain way and finding another path

Consent isn’t a box we tick at the start. It’s something we continue to ask for and check in on throughout the session. This helps build trust and autonomy, especially for clients who may have experienced a loss of control elsewhere in their lives.

2. Emotions are welcomed, not judged

In our space, all feelings are allowed—tears, silliness, frustration, hesitation, confusion, even silence.

We don’t rush to fix emotions. We meet them with gentleness, curiosity, and presence. Because when a client learns that they can show their true emotions and still be held with kindness, something powerful shifts.

This emotional safety creates room for reflection, regulation, and deeper therapeutic work to unfold in its own time.

3. The space is sensory-aware

We pay close attention to how the environment feels. The lighting, the noise, the textures, the energy of the room—these things all impact how safe a client feels.

That’s why we:

Offer weighted blankets, fidget tools, and flexible seating
Adjust pace and volume depending on what someone needs
Let clients stim, move, or regulate in ways that work for them
Ask about sensory preferences rather than making assumptions

We don’t expect clients to adapt to us. We adapt to support them.

4. Relationship comes first

We know that no amount of training or tools can replace the power of a safe relationship.

We build connection slowly and intentionally, especially with children or clients who may have found therapy difficult in the past. We don’t push for outcomes at the expense of trust. In fact, we see the relationship itself as part of the therapeutic work.

When there’s a rupture—like a misunderstanding or a moment of overwhelm—we prioritise repair. It’s these moments of coming back together that teach clients their relationships can withstand tough stuff.

5. Culture and identity are honoured

Everyone deserves to feel like they can bring their whole self to therapy. That includes communication styles, culture, neurotype, gender identity, and personal values.

We affirm:

Neurodivergent ways of being
Non-verbal and AAC communication
Gender diversity and fluidity
Cultural practices, languages, and family dynamics

We also commit to ongoing learning, reflection, and cultural responsiveness as a team.

Safety looks different for everyone

For one client, safety might be quiet music and a favourite cushion. For another, it’s knowing they can talk about identity without judgement. For many, it’s simply being welcomed back each week just as they are.

Sometimes the most healing part of therapy is not the goals we tick off, but the feeling of being accepted—no matter what kind of day you're having.