Episode 72: On Safety Planning | Brian Putnam
Fri Jan 23 2026
In this episode of Therapists’ Take, we welcome back published author and practicing family law attorney Brian Putnam to continue our conversation on Escaping Domestic Abuse, the title of his book and the framework for this important series. This time, our focus is on one of the most critical and practical aspects of leaving an abusive relationship - safety planning.
Together, we walk through how to thoughtfully develop a safety plan, what essential items and documents should be gathered in advance, how to safely execute the plan, and what survivors can expect in the immediate aftermath of leaving. Brian brings both his legal expertise and his deep understanding of the lived realities survivors face, helping translate complex decisions into clear, actionable steps.
We also discuss a comprehensive safety planning checklist that Brian has created and generously shared with our listeners (see like below). This resource is designed to help individuals think through each phase of the process with greater clarity, preparation, and support.
This episode is an empowering, practical continuation of our exploration of how to move from surviving abuse to taking concrete steps toward safety and stability.
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00:00 - Hi, Carrie (introduction)
01:37 - Introducing Our Guest, Brian Putnam
03:00 - The Book
06:28 - Empowered through Leaving
11:15 - The Checklist
13:10 - Preparing to Leave
21:05 - Items to Take
26:55 - Executing the Plan
34:32 - You Left, but It's Not Over
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The Checklist - https://shorturl.at/pzAj3
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About Our Guest:
Brian Putnam is an experienced attorney, advocate, and author of Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free. Through his legal work and writing, Brian provides survivors with clear, compassionate guidance for navigating the legal system and safely leaving abusive situations.
For more information about Brian and/or the legal services his team provides, please visit https://www.PutnamLawOffice.com.
To purchase the book, Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free, you can do so by clicking the following link - https://amzn.to/47zeFeS
As Amazon Affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Domestic Abuse Resources:
Escaping Domestic Abuse (book) by Brian Putnam – see link above
National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 799-SAFE(7233)YWCA - https://www.ywca.org/
Oklahoma Specific Domestic Abuse Resources:OK Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 522-SAFE (7233)
YWCA OKC– https://www.ywcaokc.org/
Palomar - https://palomarokc.org/
Cardinal Point - https://cardinalpointok.org/
Latino Community Development - https://www.lcdaok.com/
Sanctuary Women’s Development - https://www.lcdaok.com/
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For more great content or to learn more about our mental health services, please check out our linktree - https://linktr.ee/familysolutionsok
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In this episode of Therapists’ Take, we welcome back published author and practicing family law attorney Brian Putnam to continue our conversation on Escaping Domestic Abuse, the title of his book and the framework for this important series. This time, our focus is on one of the most critical and practical aspects of leaving an abusive relationship - safety planning. Together, we walk through how to thoughtfully develop a safety plan, what essential items and documents should be gathered in advance, how to safely execute the plan, and what survivors can expect in the immediate aftermath of leaving. Brian brings both his legal expertise and his deep understanding of the lived realities survivors face, helping translate complex decisions into clear, actionable steps. We also discuss a comprehensive safety planning checklist that Brian has created and generously shared with our listeners (see like below). This resource is designed to help individuals think through each phase of the process with greater clarity, preparation, and support. This episode is an empowering, practical continuation of our exploration of how to move from surviving abuse to taking concrete steps toward safety and stability. --------------- 00:00 - Hi, Carrie (introduction) 01:37 - Introducing Our Guest, Brian Putnam 03:00 - The Book 06:28 - Empowered through Leaving 11:15 - The Checklist 13:10 - Preparing to Leave 21:05 - Items to Take 26:55 - Executing the Plan 34:32 - You Left, but It's Not Over ____________ The Checklist - https://shorturl.at/pzAj3 ____________ About Our Guest: Brian Putnam is an experienced attorney, advocate, and author of Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free. Through his legal work and writing, Brian provides survivors with clear, compassionate guidance for navigating the legal system and safely leaving abusive situations. For more information about Brian and/or the legal services his team provides, please visit https://www.PutnamLawOffice.com. To purchase the book, Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free, you can do so by clicking the following link - https://amzn.to/47zeFeS As Amazon Affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases. ----------------- Domestic Abuse Resources: Escaping Domestic Abuse (book) by Brian Putnam – see link above National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 799-SAFE(7233)YWCA - https://www.ywca.org/ Oklahoma Specific Domestic Abuse Resources:OK Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 522-SAFE (7233) YWCA OKC– https://www.ywcaokc.org/ Palomar - https://palomarokc.org/ Cardinal Point - https://cardinalpointok.org/ Latino Community Development - https://www.lcdaok.com/ Sanctuary Women’s Development - https://www.lcdaok.com/ _________________ For more great content or to learn more about our mental health services, please check out our linktree - https://linktr.ee/familysolutionsok