Relational safety

Relational safety is two people feeling safe when they are together. This safety is a state sensed more by the nervous system than by words; the presence of the other is perceived not as a threat but as a support. Stephen Porges's work shows that a sense of safety is a precondition for a deep bond and open communication. When there is relational safety, a person can open up without going on the defensive. This safe ground is one of the cornerstones of somatic work too.