Self Care for Human Service Providers

 All too often, human service providers are dedicated to the care and treatment of their clients while neglecting themselves. Human service providers include social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and drug and alcohol counselors just to name a few. Often these professions can be stressful and draining. This necessitates the importance of emphasizing self-care for human service professionals. After all, it is difficult to assist and serve others if you are burned out, drained, and/or overwhelmed. Consider the following tips to practice self-care and avoid burn out:

Do not over commit: The responsibilities facing a professional clinician or human service provider can be great. Some clinicians report being tugged in so many directions that they can't keep up. Learn to prioritize and set limits for yourself mental health in order to avoid overwhelm and burnout.

Boundaries: The book "Boundaries" by Dr.'s Cloud and Townsend provides excellent strategies for learning and fine tuning boundaries skills. The better the boundaries, the more efficient the clinician.

Take needed time off: Don't be afraid to take time off or a "time out" if needed. In fact, may public sector social work and mental health employers offer as much as six weeks' vacation per year. There are several good reasons for this strategy including burnout prevention.

Get plenty of sleep: Adequate sleep is greatly underestimated in the United States. A majority of Americans do not receive adequate sleep which can alter a person's ability to cope.

Relax: Relaxation and stress reduction skills are important not only for our clients. Make it a habit to engage in regular relaxation and stress reduction exercises such as deep breathing or even a yoga class.

Consult and collaborate with colleagues: Colleagues who engage in regular contact can provide support and normalization in the life of a clinician.

Identify the warning signs of overwhelm: This can include, but is not limited to unexplainable fatigue, loss of energy, difficulty sleeping, and decreased ability to cope with stressors.