Counseling Exercises, Safely Connected: How God Intended

Counseling Toolkit for February 2022

Relationships matter. When clients are regularly in a state of shutdown or fight/flight, caregivers can help calm them by allowing them to feel more safe and connected. Ultimately, we want to help people connect to God to experience his unending love, safety and stability. Last month, we introduced a map of the three states of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which controls our involuntary reactions to cues of safety and danger. In this month's tool, we will show you exercises you can use to help clients move into a more healthful state and how your demeanor and compassionate presence lend stability to your clients. We have included a video demonstration of one of the exercises that you can either use with your clients or yourself to move toward safety and calm.

Natasha Steenkamp, LMHC and Clinical Supervisor