Self-Care ideas for Mental Health Therapists
Self-care… Something we should be able to do for ourselves so easily, yet, sometimes we find it so hard to set a certain time apart and enjoy ourselves and recharge. Self- care can take a small chunk of our time throughout our day but can be very beneficial for oneself in the long run. While mental health practitioners enter the mental health field to help those in need, it does not make them invulnerable to feeling overly exhausted from the issues and stresses brought in by their clients. The practice of taking a little time to do things that help us unwind, can help us unplug from the world and things that might be affecting us negatively. It can change the way we look at certain arguments and reflections as well as calming many aspects of our body and mind.
When it comes to self- care there are 5 levels of being that are the most important. One of the first ones we can begin to introduce is the physical level. When it comes to this level a few activities that we can do are, take a walk outside, get some exercise, staying hydrated and getting a good night’s sleep. Taking time for our physical self- care can help us reduce stress, can help you be more mindful and can provide less mental distress.
The second one in line is the emotional level. During sessions and encounters throughout our day we can encounter many changes emotionally. We need to process, connect, and reflect on our full range of emotions. All of them, even with these changes can impact our emotional levels without us even realizing it. A good plan to help with emotional difficulties includes, creating a gratitude journal to note down at least one aspect of our personal lives we appreciate each week, creating art, and playing music.
The next one is spiritual. Sometimes spirituality really helps people go to a different place where one can relax and ignore all the things that are causing a certain predicament in our daily lives. Spirituality does not always have to be religious, we can experience it just with our soul and mind. Believing something larger than us is in existence affecting us. This level can help us self-reflect and can nurture our spirit. Activities that help with this release of the real world can be the practice of meditation, yoga, being in nature, and going to a certain spot where we feel peace during a visualization.
The fourth one that comes up is mental. We are constantly using our minds to think for solving problems, creating ideas, and doing daily tasks. We often need certain stimuli to help our brains process certain information or for us to look at things differently. Activities that can help with this are, reading a book, solving a puzzle, playing chess, and going to a museum.
Last but not least we have the fifth level which is the energetic level. Most people are unaware of their energy bodies such as meridians, chakra systems and the biofield or “aura”. Everything starts with energy. So if there is a block here we will see a symptom physically or emotionally in our body. Clearing your chakras or tapping on meridian points can help your energy body stay balanced.
Socializing can be beneficial for all levels of self-care. Nowadays we are familiar with spending a lot of time indoors, away from friends, family, and acquaintances. We have had to adapt and experience new ways to socialize with people and create new relationships. There are certain activities that can help us nurture and grow our relationships in our life. For example, making a call to a friend, having a virtual/or in person meetup, and setting aside a specific block of time for other people you want to get to know better.
All of the levels of self-care come together and can help us be our best self. We can help ourselves by learning techniques that we tell others in therapy, and can help strengthen the bond within ourselves when it comes to doing things that help us take care of our mind, soul, and body. We can see many improvements not just in our professional lives but in our personal lives as well.
If you are looking for connection, awakening, more self-care ideas and support to implement daily self-care practices check out this program just for mental health therapists here on the coaching website. If you are interested in receiving more information and tips for self-care and awakening for mental health therapists, sign up for the results quiz and receive access to a 4 minute and 33 second meditation for energy clearings to use in between sessions and a self-care workbook.