Self-Care and Stress Management for Helping Professionals
Reflection Question 1
Following in the footsteps of Brown, one digs deep by being deliberate, getting inspired, and getting going. To this end, the last time that I experienced uncertainty and had to trust my faith entailed a moment when I was unsure if I would be able to secure a job in a certain organization because I perceived that my performance in the interview was average. While everything seemed to be against me, I had to rely on faith that I will get the job. I got deliberate by letting go of the need for certainty and sought inspiration from the experiences of individuals who had similar encounters to mine. I also got going by surrendering everything to God through a word of prayer. In this backdrop, the area that I need to hold the space for uncertainty and trust my knowledge, insight, experience, and faith entail things that are beyond my control. This is informed by the fact that allowing faith means believing in something that I cannot see.
Reflection Question 2
Notably, the breathing exercises have ushered me into a new world of taking control of my body and feelings. In this line, I realized that the deep breathing exercises significantly reduced my stress and both physical and mental tension. Often, I purposed to engage in the breathing exercise when I was emotionally disturbed, particularly when I was anxious or nervous, to assess its effectiveness. To this end, the breathing techniques were helpful because they aided me in reducing tension and emotional distress. After the breathing exercise, I felt more relaxed than I was before engaging in the breathing techniques. For this reason, I intend to use the breathing techniques as part of my self-care.
Reflection Question 3
The readings and videos have been increasingly insightful on the use of art in reducing stress and as a therapeutic tool in the helpful relationship between a social worker and a client. In this line, I perceive that I can use poetry to express my feelings during stressful moments as a means of reducing stress. Besides poetry, I purpose to use music as a tool of personal self-care. Similarly, I intend to use drama as a means of establishing a strong working relationship with clients. Notably, a new aspect that I have learned from the videos and readings is that arts therapies can cater to the full range of human experiences including behavioural, cognitive, and affective domains. For this reason, I am going to increasingly incorporate art in my social work practice with clients. Furthermore, I relate arts therapy with guidepost six in that Brown best childhood memories revolve around creativity. This phenomenon depicts the power of art to allow individuals to fully express themselves through creative means.
Reflection Question 4
Art and creativity are essential components in self-care and among social work professionals. The dynamic aspect of the two makes them applicable in numerous ways, unlike talking that is limited to one-on-one conversations. Due to the creativity involved, it is possible to devise various art therapies that encourage people to express themselves and have confidence in participating in the selected activities. The chosen quote to the journal is, ‘talking is not always the best way to communicate.’ The quote resonates with me because of the comfort one derives from participating in art and being creative. The stress level reduces after art therapy since it creates an enjoyable experience that eases how one expresses feelings. It is an activity that I would adopt as a routine and extend its use to clients. For instance, while working with recovering drug addicts, drama therapy would help in enabling them to build relationships with others and participate in the activities without feeling stressed.
Reflection Question 5
The progress of the semester is impressive because of the opportunity to gain new knowledge of expressive therapies and the integration of art in social work. Moreover, the experience is worthwhile due to the exposure I have to a wide range of therapeutical interventions. Although I have a chance to apply some strategies in self-care, the class can be modified to be more interactive. It would entail involving peers to participate in the activities of creative arts in groups and discuss the outcomes of each member. This would enhance one’s understanding and enable individuals to identify effective approaches to implement with different clients.