October 10th, 2024

Self-Care for Therapists and Counsellors: The Art of Looking After Ourselves

​As therapists and counsellors, we're all very aware of the importance of looking after ourselves as a way of looking after our practice. We've learnt, taught and encourage our clients on self-care every day. Yet, maintaining a consistent routine and practice can be challenging. Despite knowing its importance, our own self-care often gets pushed aside, especially when we are more stressed or tired. If you're anything like me, your self-care habits may fluctuate, even though you know you're at your best when you prioritise your self and well-being.

For many of us, sticking to self-care practices is not always easy. Our training, expertise, good intentions and motivation only take us so far—maintaining healthy habits requires intention and at times needs support. What starts as a solid routine can easily fall apart, with a missed yoga class here or skipped nature walk there... If you’ve ever felt guilty or even ashamed about falling behind on self-care, you're not alone.

 
​The Struggle to Stick to Self-Care

​Self-care, at our most stressful times, can feel like just another chore or inconvenience on an already huge to-do list. We can at times just simply be too exhausted by caring and carrying others, that it’s easier to let ourselves fall to the bottom of our priorities, telling ourselves we’ll do something nice later on. Once our self-care starts slipping, like a snow ball, it’s so much harder to get back on track.

We may feel the need to manage everything, and many of us add extra pressure with perfectionist’s tendencies. Despite many of us being high achievers, capable of containing high levels of stress, long with the nature of the work, we can become more vulnerable to feelings of ‘not good enough’, shame and isolation. Just because we’re resilient doesn’t mean we’re immune to exhaustion. Effective supervision and personal therapy, a healthy work/life balance, continuous personal growth and development, nurturing relationships, and self-care all help us be the best we can be.​

​ Self-Care: More Than Just Bubble Bath

True self-care is about continuously nourishing every part of your life. Though, this doesn’t mean focusing on all areas of our lives equally at all times. It’s about having the awareness and time to plan what are the the most relevant aspects of our lives are needing more attention; based on our current needs, circumstances and life stage. At times, one aspect of live may require more attention, needing macro self-care, while other areas can be managed with micro self-care.
This is the focus of the Coming Together, Self-Care Group; to provide consistent time for self-awareness, social support, and accountability. It’s a space where we can reflect, discuss, design and check on the most effective self-care plan. More importantly, doing this alongside other therapists and counsellors—true experts in well-being!

​ The Power of Community in Maintaining Self-Care

A supportive community is one of the best ways to stay accountable, inspired, and on track. In Coming Together, Self-Care Group we can share our struggles, support each other, and find ways to make self-care more joyful and consistent. It’s a safe space to be vulnerable and open, where we can lift each other up with kindness and without shame or judgment.

​ Reclaim Joy in Your Self-Care

​As therapists and counsellors, self-care is not only essential but also a professional responsibility. A thoughtful self-care plan can bring joy and renewal to both our personal and professional lives. Together, we can inspire, hold each other accountable, share ideas, and rediscover the pleasure of caring for ourselves. We do deserve to feel nourished and supported.
Self-care shouldn't be just something we have to do—it’s something we really want to do. In some cases, it’s even classified as CPD and be declared as a business expense! Let’s make self-care a priority and commit to it as a consistent, enjoyable part of our lives.