Seeking Safety is an evidence-based, present-focused counseling model to help people attain safety from trauma and/or substance abuse. It can be conducted in group (any size) and/or individual modality. It is an extremely safe model as it directly addresses both trauma and addiction, but without requiring clients to delve into the trauma narrative (the detailed account of disturbing trauma memories), thus making it relevant to a very broad range of clients and easy to implement.
The Key Principles of Seeking Safety
- Safety as the overarching goal (helping clients attain safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions).
- Integrated treatment (working on both trauma and substance abuse at the same time)
- A focus on ideals to counteract the loss of ideals in both trauma and substance abuse
- Four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, case management
- Attention to clinician processes (clinicians’ emotional responses, self-care, etc.)
NurseWise Crisis Line
The NurseWise crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week by calling 866-495-6735. Telephone Crisis Intervention Services are provided by nurses, behavioral health professionals, behavioral health technicians, and peer and family support specialists.
- Seeking Safety was begun in 1992 under grant funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- It was developed by Lisa M. Najavits, PhD at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital.
- It has been used in many countries and has been translated into over 8 languages.