Safety Net

Purpose

Safety Net provides a visual and practical way to help clients explore the protective factors that support healthy behaviour and reduce risk.

The client identifies protective factors currently present in their life, recognises where support may be missing or weakened, and explores with the therapist how those factors could be strengthened.

The sticks represent protective factors that help keep risk contained. Small balls represent unhealthy behaviours, activities or choices that may become more likely when protective factors are weakened. The large ball represents a greater increase in risk.

Approach one — What is holding me up?

• Begin with the protective-factor sticks inserted and the balls supported inside.
• The client considers whether each protective factor is currently present and working effectively in their life.
• If a factor is absent, difficult or no longer supportive, the client removes that stick.
• As supports are removed, the balls may fall, creating a visual way to discuss how risk can increase when sources of support are weakened.
• Discuss which protective factors could be restored, developed or strengthened.

Approach two — Building my safety net

• Begin with the Safety Net empty and spread the protective-factor sticks where the client can see them.
• The client selects factors they already have and inserts those sticks into the Safety Net.
• They may add factors they would like to develop or strengthen.
• Once the Safety Net is built, place the balls inside and explore whether the selected supports are sufficient.
• Discuss what is already helping, where the gaps are and which additional protective factors could make the Safety Net stronger.

Rebuilding the safety net

If balls fall during the game, this is not intended to suggest that the client has failed. It becomes an opportunity to explore what could make their Safety Net stronger, and to rebuild and test it again.

The aim is to demonstrate that one protective factor can help, but a strong Safety Net is created by several supports working together.