My Safety Buddy - Creative and Somatic Approaches to Trauma-Informed Practice

Drawing on more than forty years of experience across counselling, arts therapy, family violence prevention, and somatic practice, this experiential workshop facilitated by Chris Storm introduces My Safety Buddy: a practical and creative framework for supporting clients to develop a felt sense of safety, connection, and resource.

Grounded in Sensorimotor Art Therapy and informed by Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, play therapy, and expressive arts practices, this session offers practitioners practical ways of recognising and responding to trauma responses while reducing the risk of re-traumatisation. Together, participants will explore how safety can be fostered emotionally, relationally, culturally, and physically, while deepening their understanding of embodied ways of working, empowerment, and trauma-informed practice.

Designed for practitioners who work directly with clients, this workshop combines creative process, reflection, and discussion to support the integration of trauma-informed principles into everyday practice.

Learning outcomes

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of trauma-informed practice and why safety is foundational to effective therapeutic work.

• Deepen their understanding of common trauma responses in behaviour, communication, and engagement.

• Experience practical, embodied strategies for cultivating emotional, relational, cultural, and physical safety with clients.

• Explore the My Safety Buddy framework as a resource for supporting regulation, connection, and recovery.

• Reflect on their own experiences and insights through creative and relational inquiry.

Materials and preparation

Please have the following materials available:

• Three sheets of A3 cartridge paper

• Oil pastels and/or chalk pastels

• A notebook or paper for writing

• Plasticine or modelling clay

• A square of soft fabric (approximately 25 × 25 cm)

• String or ribbon

Can't Attend Live?
This session will be recorded and made available to registered participants for four weeks after each workshop. Recordings are provided exclusively to those who have pre-purchased a ticket. Please note that by registering for and attending this online course, participants consent to the sessions being recorded. Participants are welcome to keep their cameras off and use alternative forms of participation if preferred.