The Safety-Creating Professional

Building Psychological Safety in SUD Treatment Teams

Psychological safety represents the foundational element that enables open communication, collaborative learning, and authentic professional relationships that ultimately enhance both staff wellbeing and patient care quality.

• Team members feel safe to express concerns and admit mistakes without fear
• Psychological safety enables continuous learning and creative problem-solving
• Amy Edmondson: 'A shared belief the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking'
• In SUD treatment, safety is essential for patient safety and treatment quality
• When absent, team members withhold information and avoid seeking consultation