Reflection:
Over the course of my internship, I have had to learn how to advocate for myself when it comes to putting my mental health first. I had to realize that I am human, just like my clients, and that even though I am a counselor, I have to ensure I am incorporating self-care into my daily life. This means recognizing that self-care is a lifestyle, not a Band-Aid that you use when you are already activated or upset.
I also had to start realizing that I cannot accommodate all of my clients’ scheduling preferences. I noticed that when a client needed to cancel or schedule at a different time, I wanted to ensure they were getting the support they needed. However, I started to neglect my own time and mental rest in the process. Moving forward, I am going to be more intentional and proactive about taking care of myself and maintaining a balanced schedule. I can only help my clients as long as I am taking care of myself, too.
Professional and ethical standards:
ACA Code of Ethics Standard: C.2.g
CACREP Common Core Area Standards