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Grounding Statements (Audio)

The Grounding Statements exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. This audio track is designed for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or who are experiencing dissociative reactions which capture their attention and cause distress. 


Grounding Statements are a form of cognitive grounding exercise – practising grounding statements can help remind clients that they are safe and calm their fight-or-flight system. This audio track has been designed to teach people with PTSD, or experiencing dissociation, a simple technique to ‘ground’ themselves whenever they experience intrusive memories, flashbacks, or other dissociative reactions by offering accurate reassurances that they are safe.

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Audio track (MP3)

A therapy audio track designed for skills development.

Audio script (PDF)

The script for a therapy audio track. Read along with an exercise, or record in your own voice.

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Languages this resource is available in

  • English (GB)
  • English (US)

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Introduction & Theoretical Background

The Grounding Statements exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other dissociative disorders often experience dissociative symptoms which take their mind away from the present moment – often to memories or experiences that are distressing or disturbing. Grounding techniques are used to help people to reorient themselves to the present moment, and to safety. Grounding Statements are a form of cognitive grounding exercise. This audio track has been designed to teach people with PTSD, or experiencing dissociation, a simple technique to ‘ground’ themselves whenever they experience intrusive memories, flashbacks, or other dissociative reactions by offering accurate reassurances that they are safe.

Therapist Guidance

This audio track is designed for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or who are experiencing dissociative reactions which capture their attention and cause distress. The audio track is a simple .mp3 file which can be played in most media player apps. You can also download the verbatim script, allowing you to record the exercise for your clients in your own voice to reinforce work completed in therapy.

References And Further Reading

  • Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 319-345.
  • Fisher, J. (1999). The work of stabilization in trauma treatment. Trauma Center Lecture Series, Boston, Massachusetts.