Psychological safety and its importance at home, at school, in the community and in the workplace has only grown in prominence over the course of 2020. Whilst the pandemic has served to confirm its significance, it has always been vital for the wellbeing of individuals.

Within his new book Creating Psychological Safety, established author Dr Tony Humphreys outlines the pathways to psychological safety in a variety of life settings with the intention that the reader will be able to move towards fearlessness themselves and give attention to the relationships they create with others. Tony is a consultant clinical psychologist, author, course designer, guest lecturer and international speaker.

Tony describes psychological safety as ‘the degree of fearlessness to be able to consciously and openly express one’s self.’ Tony argues that genius lies within everyone, but when there is a lack of psychological safety (fearfulness) between individuals in the places people live, learn, play, work and pray necessary protective behaviours are created. Most people live in fear, be that fear of what other people think, fear of what might happen or fear of not being good enough. Tony points out that all fear has meaning and it is created as a means of surviving adverse experiences.

Within the book Tony reveals that the level of felt psychological safety that an individual brings to their relationship with another determines the quality of the interaction. Creating Psychological Safety is an essential read for key people in authority so they can examine their own current level of psychological safety and feel equipped to fearlessly inspire those in their care to move from fearfulness to fearlessness. Without awakening their own unconscious, fear-driven responses, leaders will not be able to do the same for others.

In light of this, Tony pays attention to a range of readers, including parents, teachers, managers and leaders, providing guidance to facilitate both their own psychological safety and that of others. In addition to explaining the differences between safety and safeguarding.

Creating Psychological Safety will help the reader to facilitate the psychological safety needed to create fearless and inclusive relationships in all aspects of their lives. Becoming fearless and taking authorship of self is a difficult process, but it is one that is freeing, fulfilling and allows individuals to truly embrace life as an adventure.

Creating Psychological Safety By Dr Tony Humphreys (Panoma Press, £14.99) is available from now from Amazon.