Counselor Self-Care: Key to Optimum Mental & Physical Health - Essay Sample

Introduction

For a person to reach the optimum mental and physical health, they should practice self-care. Counselor self-care is critical in the life and business of a counselor. It helps the counselor to deal with the pressure from work, just like any other professional counseling demands a lot of handwork from the counselor. The nature of their work requires a lot of listening and having an analytical mind to deciphering the problems of a patient. At times this may take a toll on the counselor, and they must practice self-care to cope with the pressure (Dattilio, 2015). Thus, as a result of self-care, the counselor will be able to produce quality results.

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Secondly, self-care s beneficial to counselors since it improves the well-being of their clients (Dattilio, 2015). It is often said that healthy people are much more equipped to deal with the problems of others. Counselors who deal with clients' issues are bound to be affected by them due to human nature. As a result of interference from their client's problems, their quality of work will decrease. Thus to overcome this problem, counselors will opt for self-care since it helps a person deal with any issue like fatigue.

Self-care can be achieved by doing a variety of activities. A person can decide to have enough sleep at night, eating healthy, working out, socializing with friends and relatives, getting involved in meditation, getting a pet, reading, writing, painting, and so on. A counselor should also be aware that self-care not only involves doing fun activities but also learning the art of saying no. A person can say no to an event that they are feeling uncomfortable. Besides, self-care can also be achieved by creating a balance between work and personal life (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). A balance helps to have a boundary between professionalism and social life.

Compassion fatigue is another major issue affecting counselors. The phenomena come about when the one giving care to the patient is mentally hurting. It may be as a result of a shared emotional injury (Yester, 2019). It should be noted that the nature of the work of the counselor obliges them to sit down, listen, and solve severe human problems. At times due to human life, the difficulties a counselor is solving also are harming the mental well being of the counselor. The problem can be prevented by going out with friends, doing physical exercises, and having nature walks (Maslach & Leiter, 2016).

Proper clinical supervision is essential to the development of a supervisee and the well-being of a client. It is because appropriate guidance eliminates the occurrences of errors during the treatment process, and it makes the counselor prudent in their work. There are several methods for incorporating proper clinical supervision. There is the use of technology e.g., the audiovisual gadgets, getting the highest competence required in the field, supervisors liaising with other teachers of the counselor to ensure that the goals and expectations are aligned, and lastly,,, embracing diversity as per the rules of the American physiological association.

Conclusion

In conclusion, under the vastness of the physiological profession, counselors must collaborate and consult with other occupations. The only predicament that arises is the issue of confidentiality. Privacy will be violated if a client's information is shared with another profession. Thus to combat this and allow for collaboration and consolation, counselors employ several methods to observe the ethical standards. The counselor should first seek consent from the client since the information belongs to them. Secondly, the counselor should notify the client that they have the right to revoke the consent given, thirdly, the counselor should only share the specific information needed from the record. And lastly, the client should be explained to policy and guidelines involving the sharing of information.

References

Dattilio, F. (2015). The Self-Care of Psychologists and Mental Health Professionals: A Review and Practitioner Guide. Australian Psychologist, 50(6), 393-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12157

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. (2016). New insights into burnout and health care: Strategies for improving civility and alleviating burnout. Medical Teacher, 39(2), 160-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2016.1248918

Yester, M. (2019). Work-Life Balance, Burnout, and Physician Wellness. The Health Care Manager, 38(3), 239-246. https://doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0000000000000277