Kokoro Balance Integrative Services

Part 1 of a Two-Part Series

Psychological safety is typically considered within workplaces or leadership roles; however, its impact occurs far earlier, in personal life, relationships and our internal world. This article explores psychological safety at the individual and relational levels, while the second piece will focus on how it is applied in the workplace and leadership role.

What does psychological safety mean personally?

Psychological safety defines an individual’s ability to express their feelings, thoughts and needs without fear of judgment, rejection or negative consequences (Edmondson, 1999). In personal life, psychological safety may manifest in ways such as:
• being able to verbalize your feelings without diminishing them
• expressing your needs without fear of dismissal
• asking questions without feeling “overwhelming”
• feeling comfortable with imperfections without fear of loss of connection

Psychological safety isn’t always about feeling comfortable every minute. It is more about not needing to continually protect yourself.

Psychological safety internally

Psychological safety doesn’t start with others. It starts internally. Many people are able to show empathy and compassion towards others yet find difficulty extending that same amount of compassion and understanding towards themselves. An individual’s internal dialogue can either provide understanding, critique or avoid the thought altogether. Humanistic psychology has found that personal growth occurs when one can allow thoughts and emotions to arise without an excess of criticism or judgment (Rogers, 1961). Individuals who do not have enough internal psychological safety may:
• suppress or avoid experiencing emotions
• judge themselves for feeling “too much”
• dismiss their own needs
• remain disconnected from their internal experience

Having psychological safety with oneself is when you allow your thoughts and emotions to simply be, and you don’t correct or criticize them right away.

Psychological safety in counseling

Internal psychological safety provides a strong foundation for creating psychological safety in the therapeutic relationship. Clients are often required to openly discuss their thoughts, experiences and emotions that they may never have expressed before. If clients do not perceive a sense of psychological safety, they are unlikely to open up to the degree needed for effective treatment. Research has shown that the therapeutic relationship, including aspects such as trust, emotional safety and collaboration between client and counselor, are among the most powerful factors in determining the success of counseling (Horvath et al., 2011). Having a sense of psychological safety in counseling allows individuals to speak more freely and openly regarding their thoughts and emotions, to explore conflicting or difficult emotions, take emotional risks at their own pace and engage more deeply in the process of change. Importantly, a sense of psychological safety evolves slowly over time. As stated previously, it is developed based upon consistent behavior, not expectation.

Psychological safety in relationship

A sense of psychological safety is crucial in developing communication, connections and Conflict resolution in close relationships. Attachment theory describes early relational experiences as forming expectations around whether one feels safe and if one is responsive (Bowlby, 1988). These expectations then influence the way adults relate to each other. When individuals feel psychologically safe in relationships, they are more likely to:
• directly express their needs
• Share concerns without withdrawing
• tolerate disagreements without fearing disconnection
• feel secure during conflicts

Conversely, when individuals do not feel psychologically safe in relationships, they tend to:
• guardedly interact with each other (or superficially)
• avoid Conflict (or react impulsively)
• overthink interactions or monitor their actions excessively

While psychological safety does not eradicate Conflict entirely, it creates an environment where Conflict can occur without damaging the relationship itself.

Why psychological safety is so hard to create

Creating a culture of psychological safety takes vulnerability. Vulnerability represents risk. From a cognitive standpoint, expressing emotionality or uncertainty activates our concern for social rejection or judgment. Our brains are designed to recognize potential social threats. Therefore, when we are emotionally open and vulnerable, we often feel uncomfortable. Protective behaviors that many people develop due to previous experiences of inconsistent safety include avoidance, emotional detachment and over control. While these protective behaviors are understandable, they can inhibit relationship building and personal growth.

Establishing psychological safety in your own life

Psychological safety is not established through a single event of openness. Instead, it develops gradually through continued events of being heard and understood as well as respect for the openness you display. Strategies that support the creation of psychological safety include:
• noticing and reducing self-criticism in your internal dialogue
• allowing emotions to arise without judging them immediately
• clearly Communicating your needs even though it is uncomfortable
• developing long-term Relationships where you feel accepted and respected for sharing your true self
• Recognizing when there are chronic environmental conditions that do not allow for honest expression

Ultimately, establishing psychological safety enables honesty to flourish without consequence.

Future perspectives

Although psychological safety is often presented as a valuable asset for leaders and organizations; it begins individually and relationally. Future articles will examine how psychological safety operates within a workplace setting, why it is vital for employee engagement, loyalty and job satisfaction.

References

Bowlby, j. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic books.

Edmondson, a. C. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.
Https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999

Horvath, a. O., Del Re, a. C., flückiger, c., & symonds, d. (2011). Alliance in Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 9–16.
Https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022186