Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Simple Self-Care for Therapists: Restorative Practices to Weave Through Your Workday
Simple Self-Care for Therapists: Restorative Practices to Weave Through Your Workday | Ashley Davis Bush
6 posts | 2 reading
Bite-sized self-care strategies that any therapist can easily practice. For mental health professionals who must regularly guard against compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization, intentional self-care isnt just essential; its a survival tool. If therapists dont take proper care of themselves, they cant do their work effectively. Taking up an exercise program, going on a vacation, turning to supportive social networks, while helpful remedies to the stresses of the job, are not always feasible and the results are often only short term. Synthesizing the latest thinking in mindfulness, neuroscience, energy medicine, and spiritual disciplines, Simple Self-Care for Therapists offers immediate relief in doable, bite-sized nuggetseasy exercises that can be seamlessly integrated into your current workday routine with little fuss. Over 60 restorative practices are presentedtools for (1) grounding, (2) energizing, and (3) relaxingorganized as antidotes to the most common pathologies that therapists suffer: vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Bush, a therapist with over 25 years of experience, walks readers through the descriptions and simple implementation of each practice, with illuminating stories from her own professional experiences. Whether youre in a staff meeting, conducting a therapy session, writing a progress report, or attending a workshop, these convenient exercises can be dipped into as needed. A go-to resource of self-care tools, every therapist, no matter their background or approach, now has the ability to prevent stress, avoid internalization, revive their spirit, and restore a sense of well-being.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
blurb
Bookwomble
post image

Destressing with a walk out in the sunshine, through the farm fields and onto the estuary bank. Only the sheep, cows, birds and insects for company. The salad sandwich I brought with me, the strawberries I bought from a farm kiosk along the way, picked locally this morning. And... breathe 😊🌻

quote
Bookwomble
post image

"When we love something, we take care of it.”

"When your stress levels are up, you should spend *more* time taking care of yourself.”

"Taking care of yourself is one of the kindest things you can do for others. When your cup runneth over, you have more to share.”

I'm pleased to say that my initial reservations about this book have been eased as the author expresses a more culturally inclusive stance ?

Chrissyreadit I‘m a little disgruntled by the term self care, and feel like it is exploited by privilege. I told my director the only thing I truly needed for self care was a week to write progress notes instead of 24 hours (to shake off days trauma) and it‘s the one thing I get in trouble for ever week. 🙄😣😩 3y
Bookwomble @Chrissyreadit It is weird that mangers of caring services often don't provide the care and respect to their staff that that those staff give to the service users. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 3y
21 likes2 comments
blurb
Bookwomble
post image

I have no issue with the author's Christian faith, but I do have an issue with religious exceptionalism. If this was flagged as a book written within a particular faith tradition, that would be fine, but it isn't and the assumption that a specific cultural text will be accepted by a general readership as a valid ultimate authority doesn't sit well with me. The index has refs to Judaism and Buddhism, so I'm hoping for some diverse representation.

GingerAntics I don‘t know. I take issue with that whole paragraph. I take the same issue with “it‘s in the Bible,” but I also take issue with claiming that society looks down upon those who act for themselves first. No it doesn‘t. It celebrates them 99% of the time. Look at the politicians. Look at the celebrities. The vast majority of them are all about themselves. 3y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics I thought the same about that statement. There are plenty of current/recent examples of bad behaviour in public life being celebrated (this was written in 2015, so pretty recent). I think that in a personal/private domain her statement has more relevance, but even then it's hardly a universal truth. I'm forming the impression that she & I are from different therapeutic and philosophical approaches, which is absolutely fine by me... 3y
Bookwomble personally, as long as we're not so different that I can't integrate the exercises and techniques. Mostly, what she's said so far is fairly typical self-help stuff, which is useful to be reminded of and reflect upon, so I'm still onboard 😊 3y
See All 9 Comments
GingerAntics @Bookwomble at least you‘re still finding common ground. That always good. 3y
Chrissyreadit Did it remain Christian Centric? Part of my burnout is due to working in that ideologue to begin with. 3y
Bookwomble @Chrissyreadit I'm up to about page 100, and that is the only overt assumption the author had made about her readership. She's referenced Hindu and Buddhist thought also, as well as a more general "higher power". As I mentioned above, I'm ok with her having whatever beliefs she holds, as long as she owns them. Short answer: it gets better ? I've ordered the tagged book, too, which I'm looking forward to getting when my local book shop reopens. 3y
Bookwomble @Chrissyreadit I'm hoping you find some time toad space to recharge yourself, Chrissy 💗 3y
Chrissyreadit Thanks- looking up your tagged book now. 3y
Bookwomble @Chrissyreadit No "toads" should have been involved in my last post ?, just an "and"! ? 3y
22 likes9 comments
blurb
Bookwomble
post image

I'm often not that good at doing the sort of self-care for myself that I explore with my clients for theirs. I'm also not that good with self-help books, preferring text books for knowledge, and poetry and philosophy for spirit. However, I'm feeling that I should do more to walk-the-walk in establishing a more intentional and regular approach, so let's give this book a try 😊

GingerAntics Good luck in there! 3y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics Thank you, Meaghan 😊 As you know from my subsequent post, I got off to a rocky start with this author, but I'm still optimistic about the overall direction. 3y
23 likes2 comments
blurb
Bibliogeekery
post image

I just spent the day in a workshop on self-care for therapists (not affiliated with the book I tagged). I may have downplayed the role books and reading play in my self-care. I mean I mentioned it, but not the EXTENT of it! #booknerdproblems 😘

faelinwolf I frequently downplay my self-care reading too. But shouldn't we be proud? At least we know how to engage in self-care & know it needs to be a priority! Right? & yay, I'm a therapist too! :) 7y
MrsMalaprop Self care reading 👏. I'm a school psychologist. Yes, we should be proud. So important for my wellbeing 😊. 7y
Bibliogeekery @faelinwolf @MrsMalaprop - you're right! We should be proud! 7y
71 likes3 comments
blurb
jessicabrazeal
post image

Necessary.