Establish a Special Safe Place
After your Resource Team is mobilized, it’s time to establish your Special Safe Place. This is probably different from a safe place
or happy place you may be familiar with. This safe place is truly special. Read on to find out why.

What is it?
A Special Safe Place is an imagined home base where wounded child parts can hang out and have fun. It’s a positive,
nurturing place, populated with Resources. It’s loving containment. It’s a fun place with lots of interesting things to do, like
a scout camp, a tropical island, a mountain resort, or an amusement park. For example, if it’s a beach resort, it would have a
beach, but it could also have a swimming pool, horseback riding, a tennis court, a volleyball court, a petting zoo, bike trails,
a bowling alley, a movie theater, an art room, a reading room, a lodge with sleeping rooms, and a kitchen with lots of great
food. It should be a good place for rest, play, and exploration, that’s age-appropriate for your wounded parts.
It’s a place is for your wounded parts only. Clones of the Resources will be present wherever child parts might want to hang
out to provide any comfort, protection, or supervision that’s needed. This is technically an imaginary safe place, but the
connection wounded parts will make with the Resources is real, and the feelings of comfort and safety are real.

Step 1 – Envision a Special Safe Place
Start thinking about the perfect place for your wounded parts to hang out to rest and play. It could be a completely imaginary
place, or a place you’ve enjoyed visiting in the past (if it’s completely free of bad memories). The idea of it should feel safe,
restful, and fun. Picture all the activity centers your child parts will want – playground, a swimming pool, a hike and bike trail,
kayaking, horseback riding, bowling alley, etc. Tailor it to the ages of your wounded parts. For now, picture the place with
no Resources or wounded parts present.

Step 2 – Bring in the Resources
Next bring in just the Resources. Then make clones of them. Put one Resource Team on the playground, another by the
swimming pool, another on the hike/bike trail, another with the kayaks, another with the horses, another in the bowling
alley, and so on. Notice how it feels in the body. It should feel good.
If it doesn’t feel good, try modifying the place until it does. For example, some parts might worry it’s not safe enough. If
necessary, install reassuring “safety” measures, like guard dogs, razor wire, or a castle wall. Whatever it takes to help all parts
feel safe enough to play here.

Step 3 – Bring in all your wounded parts
When it feels good, invite all your wounded parts to come hang out in the Special Safe Place. No need to count them or
name them. When the wounded parts have settled in, notice whether they like it – whether it feels comfortable and safe. It
will probably feel good.
If it doesn’t feel good, wounded parts might be reluctant to trust the Resources, or be cared for by the Resources. Tell them
they’re welcome here no matter what concerns they have. The Resources will love and accept them exactly as they are right
now – unconditionally. The Resources will work to earn their trust, over time. If this does not calm their fears enough, go to
Complications with a Single Mobilized Resource, page 6.