What We Do
Through research, community programs, and practitioner networks, the Inner Safety Project supports work that is context-driven, scientifically grounded, and responsive to the lived realities of communities. So, what do we do?
At the Inner Safety Project, we advance an interdisciplinary research agenda that examines the affective, cultural, social, linguistic, and embodied dimensions of subjectively felt safety. In collaboration with academic institutions, community organizations, and individual researchers, we explore how war, armed conflict, and disaster shape inner life across individuals, families, and communities.
Our work investigates the neurobiological, relational, spiritual, and cultural mechanisms underpinning safety, the interplay of biology, culture, and context in constructing mental wellness and recovery, and the body’s physiological responses to safety cues as they interact with environmental, relational, and cultural signals. We also consider the role of material conditions—such as economic stability, legal status, and healthcare access—alongside social bonds, spirituality, and connection to land in influencing distress, safety, and recovery. Ultimately, we seek to understand whether and how feelings of safety impact mental, physical, and social health, and to identify activities that meaningfully build and sustain safety, both within and beyond the self.
See our “Research” page highlighting our work and that of our partners.
Read our report
We design and accompany effective, community-centered programs that address the unique psychosocial needs of violence-affected populations, with a particular emphasis on restoring safety as the foundation for care, recovery, and dignity.
For example, we provide comprehensive training and ongoing support to community workers, equipping them with trauma-responsive facilitation skills, psychoeducation tools, and practices grounded in the principles of inner safety.
Additionally, we act as a bridge between community practitioners and cutting-edge researchers and practitioners, fostering collaborative partnerships that transform both research and practice, ensuring that insights flow seamlessly between those who study care and those who deliver it in community.
By supporting practice and bridging divides across disciplines, geographies, and institutions, we aim to build an effective and generative network of partners who focus on the science and practice of safety in community.
We convene researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and affected communities to share knowledge, experiences, and resources, engaging together in mutual inquiry. By elevating the science and practice of safety, placing it at the center of discussions in cross-disciplinary conferences, industry convenings, and global forums, we explore the frontiers of our work to examine how emerging insights can catalyze positive change worldwide.
Our goal is to ensure that safety is not just a concept, but a living, evolving framework for healing and practice, and we advocate for safety as the foundational principle in the design and delivery of care.