a place they can safely release their emotions and pent-up feelings -- catharsis with no recriminations
HTH

catharsis - purging of pent-up feelings through bringing them out into the open.

These meetings (the time parents have with their kids) are 'the safe place' where the child should feel secure enough (following the sincere, kind, open discussion) to say whatever it wants (whatever is on its mind). So, it doesn't matter if these things are absurd or off base...the point is that everything will come out into the open, because the child feels secure.

Maybe?!

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

catharsis


(kuh-THAHR-suhs) An experience of emotional release and purification, often inspired by or through art. In psychoanalysis, catharsis is the release of tension and anxiety that results from bringing repressed feelings and memories into consciousness.

Catharsis can have more than one meaning. Perhaps that is why it is confusing to you.

In the psychological world, the goal is to allow this release but ONLY in a safe place: a protected time and location for the person to enable the release of problems and negativity.

HTH


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Note added at 2003-07-01 13:32:04 (GMT)
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Endless debates have centered on the term \"catharsis\" which Aristotle unfortunately does not define. Some critics interpret catharsis as the purging or cleansing of pity and fear from the spectators as they observe the action on stage; in this way tragedy relieves them of harmful emotions, leaving them better people for their experience.

Therefore, commentators such as Else and Hardison prefer to think of catharsis not as the effect of tragedy on the spectator but as the resolution of dramatic tension within the plot. The dramatist depicts incidents which arouse pity and fear for the protagonist, then during the course of the action, he resolves the major conflicts, bringing the plot to a logical and foreseeable conclusion. This explanation of catharsis helps to explain how an audience experiences satisfaction even from an unhappy ending.

http://larryavisbrown.homestead.com/Aristotle_Tragedy.html

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Note added at 2003-07-01 16:04:48 (GMT)
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In response to last note:

\"You\'re creating a catharsis _in a safe circumstances_...\"

OR

\"You\'re creating a catharsis AND a safe place for your kids...\"
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Dear Kirill:
You may be overanalyzing the sentence. The author may be writing in a casual manner; just giving helpful hints.

\"you\'re creating a catharsis for your children -- a safe place -- and it also allows them to vent.\"

My understanding is that he wants parents to understand
1) children need to vent
2) children need a safe place to do it in
3) the catharsis is a positive, desirable experience for the family

It doesn't matter. You're creating a catharsis for your children -- a safe place -- and it also allows them to vent.

Rewording:
It doesn't matter because you're offering the kids a catharsis (i.e. a place/chance to relax and feel safe) and an opportunity to let off steam (ventilate their feelings)

IMO, the 'safe place' is there to explain 'catharsis' to people not familiar with the word.

Merriam-Webster:
catharsis - a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

(1) You're creating a catharsis for your children, (2) a safe place (3) and it also allows them to vent.

1. You're creating a catharsis for your children: You are helping to bring repressed feelings and fears to consciousness for the sake of purgation.

2. a safe place: And this catharsis requires a sense of safety from reprisals, ctiticism, etc.

3. and it also allows them to vent: Therefore, it is important to just let them vent.

Reconstructed: You are helping to bring repressed feelings and fears to consciousness for the sake of purgation. This catharsis requires a sense of safety from reprisals, ctiticism, etc. Therefore, it is important to just let them vent.

So says the American Heritage Dictionary. It has several other definitions, but I think that probably fits best here.

Essentially, what the author is saying essentially is that the child can mouth off about things to his or her mother or father - give vent to his/her emotions - without fear of reprisal.

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Note added at 11 hrs 33 mins (2003-07-02 00:48:41 GMT)
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The problem you\'re having, I think, is that \"catharsis\" is basically a VERBAL noun, but is being used as a CONCRETE noun here.

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Note added at 11 hrs 36 mins (2003-07-02 00:52:09 GMT)
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All the definitions of \"catharsis\" describe essentially verbal actions, yet here it seems to be linked with the concrete (physical) \"safe place\".

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Note added at 11 hrs 39 mins (2003-07-02 00:55:03 GMT)
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I think maybe Giuli\'s last couple of comments clear up the ambiguity somewhat.

Oxford ALD: " a PROCESS of releasing strong feelings..." - you're creating a process and a safe place through and in which your children are allowed to vent; i.e. they have the opportunity to!

If you let off steam afraid of the consequences, is that really bringing ease then? I think this is what the 'safe place' and the 'allowing them to vent' means here.
The process of releasing anger/fear etc. is created by the parents. This is done in a 'safe place' where the parents will not scold their children, which in turn allows the children to vent.

IMHO
;o)