Self Care Matters by Katie Emerson

My Biggest Take-Away

kemerson1_1 — 2025-10-22 21:02:55 UTC

My biggest take-away from the readings about self care is that it's important to make a plan that is "Simple, Attainable, Measurable, Immediate, Controlled by the planner, Committed to, and Consistently done" (Corey, 2018, p. 207). Sometimes it can be tempting to do a grand gesture as self care, like going on a vacation. However, it is not sustainable to go on vacations consistently, so that will eventually become inconsistent.

While I was experiencing grief after a traumatic event, I found it very useful to focus on small acts of self care - things that I didn't even think of as self care before. I started thinking of taking a shower as self care. I went to jiu jitsu classes regularly, if not religiously. I scheduled dates with my best friend often. These little actions all helped me build my mental health back up to a place where I felt in control of my life again.

Reference

Corey, G, Muratori, M, Austin, Jude I., & Austin, Julius. (2018). Counselor Self-Care. American Counseling Association.

Why Self Care Matters

kemerson1_1 — 2025-10-22 21:13:51 UTC

Self care is a crucial aspect of the helping profession because how are we supposed to help others take care of themselves when we aren't doing it for ourselves? For example, I learn jiu jitsu from a black belt in jiu jitsu. If my teacher had never practiced jiu jitsu in his life, or if he only practiced a few times here and there, how would he be able to teach me jiu jitsu? We expect our teachers to be able to do the thing we are learning from them. I wouldn't be able to teach reading and writing skills to 9th graders if I didn't read and write regularly. Being amazing at self care helps you show your clients how to take care of themselves, and allows you to fulfill your potential as a counselor.

Strategy 1: Jiu Jitsu

kemerson1_1 — 2025-10-22 21:23:48 UTC

One thing I can do to take care of myself is jiu jitsu. Jiu jitsu is my number 1 self care strategy for multiple reasons:

-When you grapple with other people, you have to be present in the moment, which helps clear the mind

-You practice staying calm in highly tense situations

-You get a good workout that also engages your mind

-You're in close proximity with others who you are trusting with your body, which creates a special bond. This helps with community building; my best friends are my training partners.

Strategy 2: Journaling

kemerson1_1 — 2025-10-22 21:27:26 UTC

Another thing I can do to take care of myself is journaling. I keep a journal near my bed because I often need a place to process my emotions. I start by dumping my raw, unfiltered thoughts about whatever is bothering me. Then, I try to see the same situation from a different perspective. Finally, I try to soothe and encourage myself. This helps me reflect on my current emotional state, re-write my narrative to a more realistic story, and come up with solutions to help me feel better.