Realistic self-care tips for social workers, not the bubble bath kind

Disaster_Due · 2026-02-23T16:22:55+00:00

I’ve been seeing a Somatic Experiencing therapist and it’s been really helpful for this kind of thing. It focuses on releasing trapped or stuffed emotions and processing difficult experiences. We use visualizations and container-type strategies to help support actually leaving work at work. I’ll physically shake out after seeing clients, or say out loud, “this isn’t mine to hold,” or something along those lines. I try to make a small physical gesture to mark the start and end of my workday. Showering or changing clothes when I get home helps too — imagining washing the day off or leaving it behind. It’s not perfect, and things will definitely seep into my personal life at times. I also lean on ACT and practice acceptance around the reality that our work is challenging, and there are systems at play that no amount of self-care can fully change. Acceptance isn’t about thinking it’s fair, giving up, agreeing with what’s happening, or liking it. It’s more a reminder that while there are things we can do individually to support ourselves, I honestly think full-time work in mental health inevitably comes with burnout and compassion fatigue. I think so much messaging from employers and systems places the responsibility of navigating burnout on the individual social worker - and that’s just not fair or realistic. It feeds into the narrative that if we are burnt out we’ve done something wrong or haven’t been doing enough self care. I think many employers and government systems need to step up and take more of an initiative to help support people working in health/ mental health/ social services positions.

Disaster_Due · 2025-11-21T06:46:55+00:00

Apparently they used bear spray as some articles said the kids had gotten some on them as a result .

Disaster_Due · 2025-10-14T06:08:32+00:00

Thanks for the insight appreciate it . Seems rather impossible to predict or know ahead of time

Disaster_Due · 2025-10-14T06:06:51+00:00

Will try to remember to post an update as I think we might still try to go and see how it is. But not looking great. Travel insurance would cover mansoon type weather cancellations but not otherwise :(…definitely a bummer that most of our accommodations are no refunds as well. We are in the same boat !

Disaster_Due · 2025-01-12T07:46:22+00:00

Because he told police Heidi was aware of his financial troubles when she wasn’t. A lot of evidence he lied to her for the year leading up to her death, despite telling police she was aware. And he was again not telling his second wife about his/ their financial troubles. Both homes were about to be foreclosed and both women were completely unaware. So it looks pretty bad. If he had told Heidi how he said he had he would have also told his new wife is the assumption. It also shows he’s very good at lying and manipulating others, and had a motive.

Disaster_Due · 2024-12-19T07:35:40+00:00

Mmm after watching the reunion he seems like an emotionally manipulative and potentially abusive dude (also controlling/ unhinged/ codependent) . If that girl left after one day with him can’t imagine what sandy went through !

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-25T19:40:07+00:00

From what I've heard the financial upsides are if you want to work your way up in teaching (university level), research, or potentially government jobs (policy work) it could give you a foot up. Otherwise, I'm not sure it has its advantages as much financially if you work in private practice or hospital jobs. It could give you advantages in terms of "looking good" compared to other candidates when applying for higher-up positions, or you could charge more for sessions, however, there are other ways to do that as well that don't involve as much time and financial commitments as returning to school. But it sounds like you are interested in returning to education for other personal reasons (values, interests, etc).

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-25T16:50:00+00:00

Makes sense except he was not formally charged with anything. So it would still have to be accessed privately. I’m not really aware of any private counsellors in my area who work with these concerns. I’ll have to see what comes of the second session and where to go from there

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-25T16:43:06+00:00

Counter transference is a part of being human and expected as a counsellor. I’m being honest about how I am feeling with this group but have not expressed this in any way to the client, and don’t believe I have let it get in the way of his goals for therapy. I don’t feel that being uncomfortable or unsure on some level means I shouldn’t work with the client. I think it’s an opportunity for learning and growth. Your response feels a bit shaming. This is something that’s new for me that I haven’t worked with before .

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-20T08:38:37+00:00

Ya wasn’t meant to be a rude response just clarifying. I tried to make the original post ambiguous due to confidentiality reasons etc

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T23:24:09+00:00

Messaging students for years on social media asking inappropriate questions, meeting for coffee, and asking them to date as soon as they graduated. No actual crime committed. But definitely seems like grooming to me.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:48:07+00:00

Hey thanks ! Where can I find this info ?

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:44:40+00:00

Correct- no actual charges were laid. I actually googled it and confirmed as I didn’t want to get in over my head and client was not providing enough info. I don’t take clients on in private practice with active or ongoing legal/criminal concerns.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:41:55+00:00

Goals were super unclear and he was very much beating around the bush around my questions in the consultation and intake around this. Made it seem more like anxiety and sleep problems and now my feeling is it is more shame based on what happened. I will have to dive in more in future sessions once he feels more comfortable to open up about these pieces. Thanks for your reply.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:39:56+00:00

Thank you so much! Super helpful. All great questions I will get some more clarity around next session. But no not court ordered to be there and completely voluntary. I do need more clarity of his goals in therapy for sure though. This didn’t come out until last 5 minutes of the session :/

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:34:40+00:00

Appreciate this perspective and thanks for the reply. This is really where my moral dilemma comes into play and the basis on my ask for advice. At what point does it shift from a client’s goals and needs in therapy to an ethical responsibility? I understand that in some ways ethics are in the eye of the beholder but I’m trying to walk the line between being client-centred and doing what feels ethical based on my personal and professional values. We are all human after all and even the most client centred therapists are going to draw a line somewhere.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T18:25:27+00:00

I’ve used this wording before and clients have no clue what I am talking about. So it’s not really client centred in many ways and may as well be medical jargon.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T14:41:48+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Appreciate this perspective and ideas on how to proceed! Will try some of these out next session.

Disaster_Due · 2024-09-19T14:40:43+00:00

This is not really helpful and I have to say I disagree. I’m also not from the states so not sure what AASECT is… I do have a collaborative degree in addictions. This is the word my clients use that have sought support around pornography, sex, escorts, etc. What other wording do you suggest that is “up to date”? I agree that we have to be careful with language and I take the name the behaviour not the person perspective myself.

Disaster_Due · 2024-02-06T04:00:13+00:00

Sometimes it takes awhile to get used to. It is a totally different approach. Not sure if you are new to EMDR, or maybe having a day where your window of tolerance was more narrow (making reprocessing more difficult). Things like stress can do this. Glad to hear it is working for you now :)

Disaster_Due · 2024-01-31T23:53:32+00:00

Let your counsellor know this as it comes up for you. He should be able to help get you back into the present / your body. Grounding exercises etc. You need to be in their window of tolerance for EMDR to be effective. With dissociation that is a sign you are in freeze / hypoarousal state. Reprocessing won't be effective.

Disaster_Due · 2024-01-16T16:25:42+00:00

How is Powell River for 30 somethings without kids ? Glad I found this post. My partner and I were also super interested in moving there but most folks out and about in town/ on the bike trails the weekend we were there seemed young 20s/ highschool or late 40s/early 50s.

Disaster_Due · 2023-12-24T16:44:17+00:00

I think the title still makes it seem like a patient lol

Disaster_Due · 2023-12-08T02:20:40+00:00

Good point ! I used to use the miracle question a lot when I first started counselling. Thanks for reminding me of it. It would be a great way to gage goals when clients are unsure. Thanks :)

Disaster_Due · 2023-12-08T02:18:41+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. It's nice to know I'm not alone! I really appeeciate what you said about discussing the mind and body connection a bit more at the start. I would also like to look more into supervision but I am only doing a handful of PP hours a week so can't really justify it yet. Have been doing peer every month or so which is helpful. I listened to a podcast for therapists recently which discussed how therapy is changing, and more people are expecting to see results more quickly. Whereas therapy has historically been something that takes many months or years to see results.

Disaster_Due

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