Option 4: Self-Care Plan
Taking care of yourself in the human services and addiction counseling field is extremely important. How can you care for your clients, if you are not taking the time to care for yourself? The first thing is to develop a self-care plan.
Developing a Self-Care Plan can be…
• Spending plenty of quiet time alone. The ability to connect or reconnect with God or your spiritual source will help you achieve inner balance and can produce an almost miraculous turnaround.
• Recharging your batteries daily. Something as simple as committing to eat better. A regular exercise regimen can reduce stress, have a positive impact on the body and mind, and help you achieve balance and re-energize you for doing other things.
• Holding one focused, connected and meaningful conversation each day. This will jump start even the most depleted batteries.
Time with others feeds the soul like nothing else and is generally the first thing to go when time is scarce.M
“Compassion Fatigue is a state experienced by those helping people or animals in distress; it is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the helper.”
Dr. Charles Figley
Ask yourself…5 Pathways for Caring for Yourself
• Consider how you replenish your mind, body, heart, and spirit (How do you fill your emotional cup)?
• Access and nurture support (What are your sources of meaningful support)?
• Stay connected to meaning (What brings you joy as a helper)?
• Engage in reflective practice (How do you increase your self-awareness)?
• Be kind to yourself (In what ways are you kind and compassionate to yourself)?
Answer the following questions below:
• What do you do to balance your life?
• What is one thing you will commit to do to take care of yourself?
• What might hinder you from taking care of yourself?
• Who can support you?
• When will you start?
• Develop a self-care plan based on the 5 “Pathways for Caring for Yourself” above.
References:
• Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project. Retrieved from http://compassionfatigue.org/ (Links to an external site.)
• Overcoming Compassion Fatigue. Retrieved from
• http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2000/0400/p39.html#fpm20000400p39-bt3 (Links to an external site.)
• 5 Pathways for Healing Compassionate Fatigue. Retrieved from https://ca.ctrinstitute.com/blog/5-pathways-healing-compassion-fatigue/ (Links to an external site.)
• Self-Care Toolkit. Retrieved from https://socialworkmanager.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Selfcare-toolkit.pdf (Links to an external site.)
Your self-care plan should be 2 pages in length, typed, 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced with your name, date, course and section number on it. Please remember to cite your work and provide a reference list for your sources.
