Understanding Felt Safety: Helping Children Feel Truly Safe
Children from hard places or with neurodivergence may not feel safe, even when they are safe—because their brains interpret the present through the lens of past trauma or sensory overload. Felt safety is emotional, not just physical, and without it, children may respond with fear-based behaviors that seem irrational. Caregivers can support healing by attuning to their child’s cues, responding with compassion, and gradually helping rewire the brain for safety through consistent, nurturing relationships.