In his book on Clergy Burnout, Rev. Fred Lehr sums up the unspoken mantra of the helping professions: “Be the selfless martyr. Bear everyone else’s pains. Make everything right.” Of course you could always do more. But can you? Self-care isn’t about being selfish or self-indulgent. Nor is it just one more item to add …
How Can I Focus on Self-Care When There’s Endless Need? Read More »
“My ability to care for people has suffered. […] Many of us feel like we’re becoming worse at our jobs.” nurse dealing with hospital staffing shortages during COVID-19 (source: NPR.org) I doubt there’s a single person working in the helping professions who hasn’t heard that it’s important to practice self-care. Yes, self-care is important. But …
“Dr. Tudbelly eyed the distraught Lionel. ‘What are your symptoms? Do you feel baffled? Bewildered? Confused? A little edgy? Frightened? Puzzled?’ ‘Yes, yes!’ cried Lionel. ‘All of that!’ ‘Good,’ said Dr. Tudbelly. ‘You’re quite normal.’ ‘But what shall I do?’ ‘Why, the same as any sensible person in the circumstances. Keep going. Hope for the …
5 Ways to Practice Self-Care When You’re Exhausted and Overwhelmed Read More »
This year, in addition to the usual back-to-school jitters, teens are getting hit from all sides during the pandemic: They may be hearing alarming misinformation about COVID, or have legitimate concerns about a highly contagious illness; They may be pawns in the competing agendas of parents, teachers, school administrators and government leaders about mask-wearing, vaccinations, …
6 Tips for Helping Teens Deal with Back-to-School Stress and Anxiety Read More »
There’s so much being published about mindfulness these days that it can be overwhelming trying to sort through all the different options. Of the dozens of books I’ve read over the past few years, here are four that I think are particularly useful for the helping professions. How to Train a Wild Elephant, & Other …
Here are four books I’ve found particularly helpful in understanding the challenges of today’s youth and how adults can effectively support them. 1) What Works with Teens: A Professional’s Guide to Engaging Authentically with Adolescents to Achieve Lasting Change by Britt Rathbone, MSSW LCSW-C and Julie Baron, MSW LCSW-C Rathbone and Baron start with an overview …
Dr. Sam Himelstein recently described ‘4 Different Approaches to Leading Groups of Youth’: Presenter: includes lecturing and direct instruction Facilitator: includes guiding discussions and eliciting contributions from the group Supporter: includes empathizing with and encouraging students Confronter: includes intervening to stop disruptive or dangerous behavior. We each tend to have a preferred role, and it’s …
3 Ways to Make Sure You’re in the Appropriate Teaching Role Read More »
The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet. Kitchen Table Wisdom, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, p. 52 2020 was an overwhelming year for anyone who works in health care, counseling, …
I don’t think there’s a youth anywhere in the world who isn’t having a hard time these days. The question isn’t whether they’re suffering, but how severely, and what we can do to help. The challenge is that caring adults were already overwhelmed, even before the triple whammy of COVID-19, the protests for social justice, …
4 Tips for Helping Youth During Times of Crisis and Confusion Read More »
These are challenging times for all of us. We each have a unique set of circumstances, depending on our family situation, the nature of our work, and the conditions in our local communities. On the other hand, there are a few themes that are pretty much universal at this point: confusion, distress, and lack of …
3 Ways Mindfulness Can Help in Crisis Situations Read More »
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