Self- Care by Leticia Sanchez

Professional “Take Away” from Reviewing Resources:

lsanchez57_ — 2023-12-04 06:11:36 UTC

After reviewing the resources on burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma, I learned how compassion fatigue is the cost of caring too much. As professional counselors, we often hear and carry traumatic stories, not to mention stories that mirror our trauma, which can impact us more than we recognize. The level of empathy we are skilled to carry can often leave us feeling emotionally numb if we are not self-aware of its potential impact. This leads to my second takeaway, being able to recognize the signs of reaching our limits is important. At times, we often downplay our exhaustion without asking for the help we may need. Acknowledging the signs and symptoms early on will help me to recognize when I am approaching compassion fatigue.

Why self-care is a crucial aspect of the helping profession

lsanchez57_ — 2023-12-04 06:13:40 UTC

As professional counselors, we help others through tough times and traumatic experiences, with a focus on building a culture of support and healing. However, in our commitment to others, we can easily set aside our own needs. Ethically, we must ensure we provide a high level of quality care and can only do so if we are taken care of first. Taking care of ourselves is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

lsanchez57_ — 2023-12-04 06:14:47 UTC

Self-care plan

lsanchez57_ — 2023-12-04 06:15:05 UTC

In order to be successful with my self-care plan, I will schedule time for it, be intentional with what by mind and body needs, and take breaks daily. I intend to:

Get quality sleep of at least 8 hours nightly
Spending more time in nature
Move at least 8,000 steps daily by going for a nightly walk
Challenge myself to unplug by leaving my phone at home while on my walks

Strategies

lsanchez57_ — 2023-12-04 06:38:55 UTC

A couple of strategies I can easily begin implementing are mindfulness and creating healthy habits. By practicing mindfulness I will become self-aware which will allow me to notice what my mind and body need. In addition, I will create healthy habits which include limiting caffeine, increasing daily movement, and monitoring my sleep patterns. These simple practices are important for self-care, self-awareness, and stress relief.

Mindfulness:

Breathing techniques such as box breathing or five-finger breathing
Be present in reality by focusing

Diet, exercise, and sleep:

Preparing well-balanced meals
Daily movement of at least twenty minutes
Get sufficient sleep