Creating Calm: Helping Children Harness the Power of Visualization for Anxiety

Visualization is a powerful coping strategy to help children decrease feelings of anxiety and stress by creating their own safe place from within. Through visualization, children can begin to learn strategies to help regulate, calm, and comfort themselves using their imagination.  

Start by explaining to your child that visualization is a strategy we use to help us feel calm. When we have big emotions like anxiety, anger or sadness, we can visualize or imagine our safe place. When we visualize our safe place we imagine a place in our mind we feel safe, calm, and comfortable. 

When you are ready, close your eyes and begin to imagine your safe place. 

Start by taking 3 deep breaths in and out.

As you imagine your safe place, notice how you feel. What do you see in your safe place? What colors do you notice? What sounds do you hear? What scents do you smell? What are you doing in your safe place? Is there anyone you want in your safe place with you? 

Again, take 3 deep breaths in and out and slowly open your eyes. 

Remember that you can go to your safe place whenever you want!

Having your child draw their safe place can be a great way for kids to practice visualization.  As they are creating their safe place, remind them to draw what they see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. When they are finished, have your child put their drawing in a safe place as a reminder of their new coping skill!