Episode 371: Solo Episode: Before You Leave: How to Create a Safety Plan

You may have heard it so many times. "Make a safety plan." And every single time, the women I talk to say the same thing: okay, but what does that actually mean?

In this solo episode, I'm walking you through what a safety plan actually is, why it matters, how to contact a domestic violence agency or shelter before you're in crisis, and what kinds of help may be available even if you never spend a night in a shelter. We're talking about children, custody fears, documentation, technology safety, legal questions, and why leaving safely often requires more than courage. It requires information, support, and a plan.

When you're sitting in your house trying to think through all of this, the part of your brain that is figuring things out or making decisions isn't really working. You're in trauma. And yet you're supposed to make a plan. With what money? Which car? What documents? With my children? Without my children? What if the shelter's full? What if he tracks my phone? What if I leave and he says I kidnapped the kids? What if I stay and something happens? 

By the end of this episode, I want you to understand what goes into a safety plan, who can help you make one, how to think about shelters and domestic violence agencies, and what questions to ask before you take any action, especially if you have children. 

A safety plan is not about living in fear. It's about refusing to let fear be the only thing in the room. Fear says, "I can't." A plan says, "Here's what I need to know." Maybe not today, but one private step is enough. 

What you'll hear about in this episode:

• What shelter actually means and how to use it before you're in crisis
• Technology safety: phones, tracking, shared accounts, and what not to do first
• How to assess your risk and what goes into a safety plan based on that risk
• Identifying your safe people and what "safe" actually means
• Documents to gather: ID, financial records, car title and registration, and more
• How to document incidents in patterns, not just isolated events
• Building cash quietly: gift cards, separate accounts, and why money must be part of the plan
• The physical exit: routes, keys, cars, kids, pets, and where you're actually going
• Kids, custody fears, and why his threats are not legal advice
• How to talk to an advocate or attorney about risk, documentation, and timing
• Your go bag: what's in it, where it lives, and what to do if you can't get to it

Resources & Links:

Creating a Safety Plan
Safety Planning Words, Phrases, & Questions
Registration is now open for the Unbreakable Retreat!
Kate Anthony's Complete Parenting Plan
Focused Strategy Sessions with Kate
The Divorce Survival Guide Resource Bundle
Phoenix Rising: A Divorce Empowerment Collective
Kate on Instagram
Kate on Facebook
Kate's Substack Newsletter: Divorce Coaching Dispatch
The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast Episodes are also available YouTube!
Seven Step Mindset