Supporting Self Care

In the health professions and in front line roles we are often called on to support people with problems, difficulties and failures. At Circle we see a crisis as the starting point for our services, which means we have the opportunity to work with people at key moments of challenge and overwhelm. During the course of this work we help people to work through the immediate sense of urgency and disruption that accompanies a crisis, but keep an clear eye on the potentaial that a person may hold as they athis crisis point. Keeping an open mind for the potential that may be present for a person going through a challenging time is really helpful since it can inform how we start to plan and respond during a phase of healing and restoration that can sometimes occur following a crisis. At times like this we focus on creating habits of self care that can connect a person in with what is truly valuable to them, but offer a more supportive and helpful routine through their recovery. While its important to offer some suggestions, it is always best to be curious when it comes to what might work for a person. Reconnecting with an old hobby or activity such as art, fitness, fishing or travel, can be a helpful starting point when working with self care. Just a small start like a walk, a message to and from a loved one, or a sketch in an old notebook can be all it takes to kick start a routine that can be built on over time. Supporting self care often involves getting in touch with a person’s potential and believing that with the right help and some hope that things can be better than they are now, we can support a person to not only overcome the immediate concerns for safety and well-being accompanying a crisis, but also to build on the creative energy that may be awaiting a person moving into a recovery space. Regardles of the stage a person is in, routines of good self care conected to their values will offer a much needed bedrock on which recovery can be built.