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After reviewing the sources on burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma, my biggest take away is the importance of knowing, recognizing the symptoms and understanding the impact that it can have on my life. This is my first year as a school counselor and at the beginning of the school year I felt many of these symptoms. I did not realize how the stress of the job was affecting me.

As school counselors not only do we wear many hats, we are also usually the first responders to crisis. Therefore, I learning that as a school counselor I have the responsibility to take care of myself so that I can provide support to others.

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Importance of Self-Care in the Helping Profession

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Importance of Self-Care in the Helping Profession

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I believe that self-care is vital part for those in the helping professions. It is important for those that take care of others to take care of themselves in order to be able to assist others without compromising their well-being, avoiding burnout, and emotional and/or mental trauma.

Reflecting on self-care reminds me of the plane instructions of putting your oxygen mask on first before putting it on someone else to ensure you survive and able to help others. I also believe that we cannot give what we do not have, therefore, in order to provide support, and compassion to others, those of us in the helping professions must first provide such to ourselves.

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There are several self-care strategies that I have in place to ensure that I take care of myself. Some strategies include my morning coffee, working out, taking bubble baths, family time, spending time outdoors and spa days.

However, I am not as consistent as I wish I was because in many cases I get distracted or busy with others and neglect my personal time. My goals is to be more consistent with my workouts, get more rest and make healthier eating habits. Also, I want to set boundaries, do more of the things I enjoy and prioritize self-care.

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Morning coffee

Workouts

Family Time

Enjoy the outdoors

Bubble baths

Spa days