SELF-CARE PADLET by M Perez

perez_solerf — 2023-10-29 00:49:52 UTC

My biggest takeaway is to remind myself that "You can't pour from an empty cup." This could be considered a platitude but for any counselor, it should be a daily motto. In order to best serve others, we need to take care of ourselves diligently. We need to sleep enough, enjoy a positive mental well-being and be happy to the extent that is possible. There are too many negative instances that can affect a counselor such as burnout, compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma... Hence, it's critical to actively take care of ourselves.

perez_solerf — 2023-10-29 01:24:37 UTC

As Core et. al. (2023) state "Self-care is not a luxury; it's an ethical mandate" (p. 3). Personally, I believe self-care is essential. I work as a school counselor and I almost never have students come to my office with good news. It's always problems: problems with their teachers, with their classmates, with their parents, with themselves... They never come to you with great news. Which is fine, I picked the job freely. However, if you don't take care of yourself actively, all those problems will definitely take a toll on you.

Corey, G., Muratori, M., Austin, J. T., & Austin, J. A. (2023). Counselor self-care. John Wiley & Sons.

perez_solerf — 2023-10-29 01:36:51 UTC

When I began to work as an elementary teacher, I realized I needed an outlet at the end of the day to decompress. Ever since then, I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. It's not only that it helps me "move on". On a certain level, going to the gym sets a boundary in my day: Before the gym, it's my professional time. At the gym, my personal time begins and it's my leisure time. It's about enjoying the rest of my day. Also, on weekends I love to relax, read, go hiking... The weekend is always absolutely mine. It's about enjoying the small pleasures of life: going to the lake, walk, enjoy the weather, the colors in the sky...

perez_solerf — 2023-10-29 01:43:41 UTC

I love hiking. I go hiking as often as I can. It clears my mind, it takes me away from the city and the hectic daily life. I enjoy being outdoors and seeing the sea and the mountains. I like to see the beauty around me. That helps me relax and relieve stress. (This picture was taken in June 2023).