For 21 years I have been working as a lead psychologist in acute psychiatry, where the question of a "safe place" often arises – a place where security and protection can be immediately established even in a clinical setting, despite acute crises. Therefore, simple blankets have long been part of our repertoire. However, one patient brought her own therapy blanket to the ward and told me about its positive effects. I accompanied her to her room and looked at this blanket, which, lying aesthetically on the hospital bed, already visually changed the atmosphere to feel homely and personal. She reported on its individual effects during sudden panic attacks; she was able to regulate feelings of hopelessness, despair, and uncontrollability of her condition through this blanket. Due to the weight and the feeling of being enveloped, she experienced an immediate positive influence on her central nervous system, even in a trauma-therapeutic sense. I immediately turned to the internet afterwards and read more about it.

These blankets can evoke a spontaneous feeling of calm, of not having to do anything more – in short, an "all is well" sensation on both a physical and psychological level. Self-care, recharging one's energy, and allowing oneself rewards serve to maintain one's capacity to work and, above all, one's own resilience – the ability to stay healthy in both professional and private life. Mindfulness, relaxation, and good self-management are immensely important for us psychotherapists!

We now have therapy blankets in the wards, which can be washed well. Depending on the mood / state of calm or tension, the weight is experienced as differently pleasant. By regulating the contact surface, the assessment of the current state of mind and the answering of the question "what do I need right now?" is trained. Contact with one's own needs is supported.
The therapy blankets help our patients with

Panic attacks, generalized anxieties and worries

Depression, suicidality and other acute crisis situations
In cases of intrusions as echo memories of past traumas, the blanket strengthens a sense of security in the present moment, conveying "I've put it behind me...".
In the context of Borderline Personality Disorder, even minor triggers can lead to a severe tension reaction in the body, which can result in self-harm due to impaired impulse control. The blanket can be used as a "skill" to reduce tension, and even self-deprecating thoughts can be temporarily altered through the act of good self-care.
For individuals with intellectual disabilities, the blanket serves to soothe.

In dissociative states ("feeling out of oneself..."), the weight of the blanket helps to better perceive one's own body boundaries (ego identity).

I see further potential and need for therapy cloaks; I have already ordered some. I intend to use them for internal peer first aid. In acute stress situations experienced by staff, in addition to a conversation, the blanket can serve as a crisis intervention measure to reduce the development of a longer-term post-traumatic stress disorder. This occurs when the acute stress situation and the body's alarm reaction are brought down as quickly as possible.

I am very convinced and have already told several patients, as well as psychotherapist friends, about this wonderful opportunity to be able to deal with oneself well and to become one's own therapist in a self-caring way! A particular benefit is provided by the use of blankets and calm instead of calming medication, which strengthens the experience of self-efficacy! Many thanks for that!