Eight Step Safe/Comfortable Place Protocol*

1) Image. Help client to identify a place (real or imagined) that evokes personal feelings of
calm and safety. (Can be done with eyes open or eyes closed. For most people, eyes
closed is more effective, but for some, closing the eyes is uncomfortable).
Bring to mind a place, real or imagined, that brings up for you feelings of
calm, safety and/or greater comfort. Nod or say yes when you have one.
2) Emotions and sensations. Have the client focus on the image or scene, notice the
feelings, identify the location in their body of the pleasing sensations associated with the
safe/calm place and describe that to you. Write their responses down verbatim. If they
dont give you all sensory aspects, ask them for whats missing, visuals, sounds, smells.
When you think about that place, describe what you observe, what you see,
hear, feel, smell-- notice the positive feelings present and describe this to me.
Then ask, Where do you feel that in your body?

3) Enhancement. Assist the client to enhance the safe/calm place with soothing guided
imagery repeating verbatim the aspects they have shared with emphasis on the positive
feelings and sensations that they have described.
I want you to enjoy this place noticing (feeding back the sensory
descriptions they have given exactly as they gave them to you, such as,
noticing the view from the cliff out into the ocean, the deep blue color of the
water, the wind blowing in your face, smell of the sea air and the sound of the
surf. And notice that feeling of well being and the relaxation in your
shoulders).
4) Bilateral stimulation. Once enhanced, ask them to gently open their eyes, direct
them to notice that place and the positive sensations and add several brief sets of
bilateral stimulation (4-6 passes of eye movements or taps).
Gently open your eyes and continue to notice this place and those pleasant
sensations as you follow my fingers with your eyes (or, allowing them to keep
their eyes closed as I do these gentle taps). Introduce the bilateral
stimulation. Then ask, What do you notice now? to get a sense of what
effect the bilateral stimulation had. Repeat several times if the process has
enhanced the clients positive feelings and sensations.

5) Cue word: Have the client identify a single word that represents his/her
safe/comfortable place.
(With eyes open or closed) Once again, bring up that comfortable place.
Allow a word to come to mind that represents for you that place. Ask them
for the word if they do not share it with you.
Cue word or phrase: ______________________________________
Repeat step 3, verbally enhancing the experience of the comfortable place and the pleasant
feelings and sensations and remind them of the cue word
( . . . and notice the word ______). If their eyes are not open, ask them to
gently open their eyes and again do a short set of eye movements (or they can
keep their eyes closed and use taps). Repeat several times.
6) Self-cuing: Instruct client to repeat the procedure on his/her own, bringing up the
image and its positive emotions and sensations along with the cue word.
Now, on your own, I want you to bring up the image, and notice those
positive sensations and the word ____(cue word that represents that place).
How was that?
7) Cuing with disturbance: Have client think of a recent, mild disturbance, then
instruct them to go to his/her safe/comfortable place and notice the difference in
his/her feelings and sensations. Check in with them about what effect that had. Repeat
that step if you have the time.
For a moment, I want you to recall a recent, mildly distressing experience. Nod
when you have found such a memory. (Wait until they have indicated that
they have located that memory.) Check in and notice what its like to think
about that disturbing experience. Pause for a moment. Now turn your
attention back to your safe/comfortable place and the word___. Pause.
What effect did that have on the experience of the memory?
8) Self-cuing with disturbance: Without any help from you, have client think of a mild,
recent disturbing event, imagine his/her safe/comfortable place and experience the
positive emotions and sensations.

*adapted from Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; Basic Principles, Protocols,
and Procedures. New York: The Guilford Press. pp. 125-126