Self-Care and Summer Growth
By Ashley Pritchard and Cindy Povall | April 2020
Self-Care
By Ashley PritchardAs school counselors, we often put our students’ needs before our own, consistently ensuring that our students feel safe, heard, understood and supported. This inevitably leads to days where we feel stressed and overwhelmed, and no doubt a bit of compassion fatigue.
ASCA’s Ethical Standards state that school counselors should “monitor their emotional and physical health and practice wellness to ensure optimal professional effectiveness.” It is so important – especially during the uncharted days of virtual learning and telecounseling – that we take the time and take care of ourselves! As the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
School counselors know self-care is important, but self-care doesn’t always have to be bubble baths and manicures. At its basic level, self-care should fill your tank – emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. Below are some self-care tips, and even though you probably know or practice them already, perhaps you’ll be prompted to step away from your computer or phone and take a few minutes for yourself.
- Practice deep breathing exercises/meditation: You can use an app like the Calm App or search YouTube for a mindfulness breathing exercise.
- Stretch and/or exercise: Physical movement is a great way to help our bodies feel calm and refreshed.
- Connect with others: Connecting with other school counselors, who can relate to how you’re feeling, can help on the particularly difficult days.
- Take a walk outside and get some fresh air.
- “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love,” wrote Brené Brown. We can be our own worst critic, so use this quote (or find another) that reminds you to be kind to yourself!
- Listen to some music: Whether it’s spiritual, jazz, or nature sounds that soothe you, relax to the music. Or if you’d prefer something more, listen to some party music and get up and dance!
Summer Growth
By Cindy PovallSummer, summer, summertime
Time to sit back and unwind…
D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
In the summer, we are very lucky if we can sit back and unwind at the shore, in the mountains, or near a river or lake. If you are like me, you might use summertime to participate in activities that increase your learning in the field of school counseling.
Summer is an outstanding season to take advantage of extra time and participate in activities that promote professional growth, while spending time at your favorite location. It is an excellent time to devote to reading. Some suggestions:
- “Interrupting Racism: Equity and Social Justice in School Counseling,” R. Atkins and A. Oglesby
- “The Deepest Well,” N. Burke Harris
- “Help for Billy,” H. Forbes
- “Motivational Interviewing for School Counselors,” R. North
- “What Does It Mean to Be White?” R. DiAngelo
- “Is Everyone Really Equal?” Z. Sensoy & R. DiAngelo
- “Hatching Results” books, T. Hatch
Of course, professional development opportunities are available during the school year, but there are several wonderful opportunities you can take advantage of during the summer.
- Counselor college tours: NJSCA, NJACAC and other state counselor organizations or university/college collaboratives typically host these (though the current pandemic may alter plans for 2020)
- Attend the ASCA national conference
- Listen to ASCA webinars or podcasts
- Take an ASCA U course
- Become active in and join NJSCA at the summer Leadership Development Institute
- Create a presentation to share at an upcoming NJSCA fall or spring conference.