Self-Care Padlet by

kpropst3 — 2024-10-22 21:45:10 UTC

My biggest take away after reviewing the resources provided is that the need for self-care is real. After reviewing all of the information on this topic in relation to professional counselors I am compelled to believe that self-care is a necessity and that it is far from a luxury. In fact, I would venture to say that it is a top responsibility to those we serve that we prioritize taking care of ourselves. In terms of burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma the most profound information that I learned was that these can seriously impede your ability to not only perform to your potential in the professional setting, but also have significant and negative repercussions on all other areas of your life, health and wellbeing.

kpropst3 — 2024-10-22 21:45:18 UTC

Running on full....

kpropst3 — 2024-10-22 21:57:59 UTC

Self-care is a crucial aspect of the helping profession because without attention to self-care you become ineffective in your role as a "helper". I have heard countless times the mantra that "in order to care for others you must first care for yourself". However, this has always been in the framework of motherhood, in my experience. The suggestion that as a mother you must care for yourself if you are going to be your best to care for your children. Over the years I have gained an appreciation for the truth imbedded in this mantra. I now see and am beginning to understand the application this has within the framework of the helping profession. I can more readily be convinced of the importance of self-care in this framework because I have experienced it within the framework of motherhood and come to understand the value.

kpropst3 — 2024-10-22 22:04:58 UTC

What I can do to ensure that I am taking care of myself while serving others in the helping profession is prioritize time to move my body each morning as well as fueling and hydrating throughout the day with healthy snacks and water. Running brings my stress and anxiety levels down and in turn would help to counter the stress and anxiety brought by burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. The time I spend moving my body is time that I can process thoughts and feelings in order to lessen the likelihood that I will be ruminating at other times in the day and night. Ensuring that I am taking in healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to keep my mind at its best and allows me to be able to handle incoming stress, situations, tasks, etc. I believe these approaches will help me to feel I am not running on empty!