EMDR Safe Place Worksheet: Building a Calm Place

The “Safe Place” (or Calm Place) technique is a primary stabilization intervention utilized during Phase 2 (Preparation) of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) protocol. This worksheet provides a structured clinical framework designed to help clients establish a reliable internal “emotional sanctuary” before proceeding to the intensive reprocessing phases. By guiding the client through vivid imagery and multi-sensory enhancements—including sight, sound, smell, and tactile sensations—the clinician facilitates the neurological installation of a calm physiological state. A critical clinical component of this tool is the integration of Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to strengthen the associative pathways between the safe image and the client’s parasympathetic nervous system response.

The structured layout is designed to facilitate Affect Management by moving the client through a progressive installation sequence. Research in EMDR suggests that the ability to access a state of internal safety significantly increases a client’s “Window of Tolerance” and provides a vital safety mechanism for Phase 7 (Closure). By developing a specific “Cue Word” and testing the sanctuary against minor “annoyances” or low-level disturbances, the worksheet ensures that the skill is not just a passive visualization but a functional tool for real-world regulation. This approach supports the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model by building the ego strength and neural resilience necessary to manage traumatic material without dissociation or flooding.

This clinical resource draws significant inspiration from the foundational stabilization protocols established by Francine Shapiro and the standardized scripts for resource installation refined by Marilyn Luber and Andrew Leeds. By operationalizing the Safe Place exercise into a manageable, two-page format, the worksheet assists practitioners in equipping clients with a portable “internal refuge.” This process is foundational for ensuring that the therapeutic journey is characterized by safety, containment, and the client’s reclaimed agency to return to a state of peace at will.

How This Worksheet Can Be Used

Phase 2 Resource Development:
Therapists use the worksheet early in treatment to identify and “lock in” a calm state. It serves as a diagnostic tool to ensure the client can successfully access and maintain positive affect before starting trauma reprocessing.

Testing Skill Generalization:
The “Cuing with Disturbance” and “Self-Cuing” sections are utilized to practice active regulation. By bringing up a minor annoyance and neutralizing it with the cue word, the client proves they can influence their own internal state under pressure.

Crisis Safety Planning:
Clients are encouraged to use the completed worksheet as a reference guide between sessions. When facing real-world triggers, they can refer back to their sensory enhancements and cue word to regain stability independently.

Benefits of the EMDR Safe Place Worksheet

• Provides a structured, evidence-based framework for establishing a sensory sanctuary.
• Utilizes 5-sense enhancement to maximize the stability and vividness of the calm state.
• Integrates Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to neurologically install positive physiological states.
• Supports the AIP model by reinforcing positive memory networks and internal resilience.
• Includes structured “Disturbance Testing” to ensure the skill functions under emotional stress.
• Develops a “Cue Word” shortcut for rapid, real-time grounding in daily environments.

References

• Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
• Luber, M. (2009). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Scripted Protocols: Basics and Special Situations. Springer Publishing Company.
• Leeds, A. M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants. Springer Publishing Company.
• Korn, D. L., & Leeds, A. M. (2002). Preliminary evidence of efficacy for EMDR resource development and installation (RDI) procedures. Journal of Clinical Psychology.