Tools and Counselor Self Care Plan by Amanda Cardona

Amanda Cardona

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-21 03:16:13 UTC

Individual Counseling EDG-6320

Biggest Take Away from Self-Care learning.

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-24 00:24:02 UTC

The biggest take away is learning about burn out and signs of burn out as well as compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. I also was thankful to get more insight into these topics as it pertains to the role of a Licensed Professional counselor. I know I have experienced compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma as a school counselor, but it was interesting as to how it affects LPC’s as they work with higher level mental health needs. I learned that signs of burn out are emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reducing feelings of accomplishment. I also learned that burn out is a long-term process compared to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma which can happen quickly. I thought it was awesome to discover that when counselors have a greater sense of significance and connection, they are less likely to feel vicarious trauma. This includes having a sense of spirituality (in their own choosing). Examples are organized religion, yoga, meditation and community service.

Importance of Self-Care for Helping Professionals.

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-24 00:40:59 UTC

Self-Care is vital for the wellness of helping professionals due to the nature of our work. We spend a great deal of time helping others and listening to others’ problems and life challenges. Helping Professionals often forget about themselves and don't take care of their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Because this is a common trait of a caring professional it often leads to a professional experiencing vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and also eventually burn out. Helping professionals often feel guilty when they are not available to help someone in need so they tend to over commit to having a lot of clients and if those clients have high needs like depression, suicidality or borderline personality disorder this can take any even bigger toll on the counselor if they don’t involve themselves in consistent self-care practices. When a caring professional doesn’t implement self-care practices it can not only affect their personal relationships and life but also their professional life. If a helping professional doesn’t take care of themselves then they are less likely to be able to effectively help their clients and be present with them in sessions due to the negative effects of burn out.

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-24 00:41:59 UTC

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-24 00:42:24 UTC

Personal Self-Care Strategies

acardona6_2 — 2024-03-24 00:57:34 UTC

I will incorporate regular Spirituality/Prayer/Meditation in my life as well as grounding myself in nature and doing exercise intermittently throughout my week.

● Regular prayer and meditation: Attend or watch online church services on Sundays. Set a time to pray in the morning and in the afternoon after work. Watch and engage in a mindfulness stretching meditation video twice a week.

● Taking breaks to ground myself in nature. Go to an open space with lots of trees and sit in the grass with my shoes off and ground myself by observing my environment and connecting with the earth. Example: Park, Hiking trail or Lake. I will do this at least once a week.

● Exercise/ Movement: I will do either one of these activities at least 3-4 times a week. Ride my Peloton Bike (20-minute class). Take a walk in the neighborhood or Park. Do a yoga or stretching Peloton class.