Takeaway #1: The biggest takeaway that resonated with me was that as school counselors we are required to to seek self-care because if we do not then we are now liability. As a liability how can the counselor handle a crisis situation in an appropriate way? The counselor becomes isolated, misses work, and is they are unable to service the needs of their students.

Takeaway #2: Upon completing my practicum, I can recall my site supervisor being asked to manage many non-counseling duties. I can remember how stressed she was when she reminded administrators of how her time should be allocated. I also remember she had little to no supervision. I wonder if I will have a mentor or who will check on me?

Takeaway #3: I learned about developing counselor shared agreements, advocating for supervision, and entrusting my colleagues about traumatic caseloads. School counselors are more vulnerable to face burn out, and compassion fatigue.

Self-Care Strategies on Campus: At my campus, I will check-in on my fellow colleagues. This five-minute check-in can be accomplished by asking my peers how their day is going. If they are having an off day, perhaps just being their will help. This check-in can be reciprocated by my fellow peers, thus creating a support network.

Self-Care Strategies at Home: At home I will try hiking as a away to practice self-care. This strategy enables me to focus on my own social emotional learning by reflecting on coping strategies that worked worked or not worked. Afterwords, I would journal my thoughts and devise a plan that increases my own self-awareness.

Long-Term Self-Care Strategies: While i was completing my practicum, I learned from my site supervisor the importance of taking time to go on vacation with my loved ones. Since graduate students are also vulnerable to compassion fatigue and burnout, I made it a point to attend a beach resort in South Padre for five days with my family this summer. This vacation rejuvenated my overall mental well-being and permitted me to start the new year refreshed.

1. Self care is not something I hope to get but it is something that I must do. Example: I journal every night my high and low points of my day.

2. I find a way to refill my emotional bucket. I strive to go on nature walks in the morning hours during the weekend or afterwork.

3. I focus on my own social-emotional learning by forming a personal support system. For example, I formed my own "lunch-bunch group with the school counselor, social worker, and Community in School partner. We meet every Tuesday to reflect on our week.

4. I remind myself that I have an ethical obligation to engage in self-care activities. This obligation allows me to be counselor that I always envisioned.

As a future school counselor, I have learned that self-care is essential within our field because it is proven to:

• increase my physical energy and enable me to focus on my real career purpose

• reduce my stress by improving my resiliency and remaining aware of internal feelings

• reduce any onsets of depression by forming healthy interpersonal relationships

• increase my understanding of coping skills so I can learn how to process uncomfortable feelings.