Counselors – Prioritize Self Care
We talk about the challenges associated with addiction counseling, and they cannot be ignored. Ben Brafman, founder, and CEO of The Academy for Addiction Professionals, discusses what a counselor’s self-care looks like and offers some essential self-care tips. Some of the crucial needs for any counselor include the following:
Have a Supervisor
While this may seem obvious, it’s also how we use our supervisors that makes a difference. The supervisor can be instructed to help us get through challenges. They should also be a support system for ethical, moral, or professional dilemmas. Most importantly, we can learn from them just by being around them. Find your mentor and take advantage of their experience.
Take Care of Yourself Physically
Proper diet, exercise, and sleep are critically important to the physical and mental health of the counselor. Working through other people’s behavioral health issues is challenging if we are not balanced and ready for the day. Eating well, sleeping long enough, and exercising are essential to reduce stress and manage the psychological and physical difficulties that can arise in addiction counseling.
Get In Therapy
You might think you have it all figured out, but you don’t. None of us do. Counselors who deal with other people’s mental health and addiction concerns daily need a therapist.