Design a Comfortable-Enough Place

How to use it

1. Choose whether to design a comfortable-enough place, a neutral place, a pretend place, or something else.
2. Add, move, or remove walls, doors, furniture, nature, light, sounds, helpers, and blank pieces.
3. Decide who or what may enter, how close things are, and how someone can leave or ask for support.
4. Stop, change the scene, or keep parts private at any time.

Reflection prompts

• Which choices make the place more workable for the character or for you?
• What would you change if ‘safe’ feels too strong or unavailable?

Facilitator guidance

Use ‘comfortable enough,’ ‘more workable,’ or the child's chosen term; some children cannot identify or imagine safety. Do not promise safety, interpret omissions, or use the scene to bypass real environmental risk, safeguarding needs, or material support.

Adaptations & accessibility

• Build for a fictional character, animal, object, or future visitor.
• Use collage, blocks, miniatures, digital drag-and-drop, AAC, or verbal choices.
• Offer neutral sensory options and avoid requiring closed eyes or visualization.

Review considerations

Enhanced licensed play-therapy and trauma-informed safeguarding review required before use; avoid false safety promises, forced visualization, trauma reenactment, and symbolic over-interpretation.