Therapists, it’s not a “maybe” to prioritize self-care - it’s part of our JOB! We can’t be of service to others (or have this be a sustainable career path) if we don’t.

In this episode, we’re getting real about what self-care for counselors actually means in practice. Not the Instagram version but the deep daily practices that keep  you grounded, present, and well enough to keep showing up for others and for yourself.

We’ll talk through how to recognize your personal red flags - those subtle dashboard lights that tell you something’s off - and what it looks like to build a sustainable self-care system around five essential pillars: space, physical well-being, mental clarity, social connection, and personal alignment.

This is to help you reconnect with your own needs, create stronger boundaries between life and work, and remember why self-care isn’t a luxury in this field - it’s a clinical responsibility.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why Self-Care Is Essential for Counselors

04:52 Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Burnout

11:42 Building a Daily Self-Care System That Works

14:05 The Five Pillars of Self-Care for Counselors

30:05 Aligning Your Career with Your Values

I know how easy it is to put yourself last when you're a helper. If this episode nudged you to start tuning back in to you, I made something I hope will help: Take the Flourish + Thrive Quiz. This free, research-informed quiz is designed to help you get real about where you’re thriving - and where your reserves might be running low. It’ll give you personalized insight into how you”re doing, along with reflection prompts to help you reconnect with your values and your “why.”

Want a tool to help you take action, not just reflect? Come connect with me on LinkedIn, and I’ll personally send you my Self-Care Action Plan Workbook - the same one I use with my supervisees. It’s totally free, thoughtfully designed, and gives you a gentle structure to start building your own sustainable self-care system. Just message me and I’ll send it your way.

And if you're sitting with something this episode brought up… let’s talk. This podcast is for you, and your voice matters here. You can share what’s on your heart, what support you’re craving, or what you’d love to explore in future episodes by filling out this quick form. I’d truly love to hear from you!

xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Growing Self