Wellness: Tending to Self�so We Can Tend to Others�

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Tamarine Foreman, PhD, LPCC-S

Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Wellness for Patton College

Associate Professor of Counselor Education

Ohio University

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the lotus flower

Out of the murky mud of life

grows the purely beautiful

lotus flower,

trusting

In its own

Unfolding.

Exploring Your �Strengths

• Trace your hand
• Decorate your hand with your strengths
• Use words or images

Thank you for �all you do!

“What is to give light, must also endure burning.”� –Viktor Frankl���

Impact of Our Work

• Personal Life Impact​
• Overwhelmed​
• Exhausted​
• Physical Impact ​
• Stress​
• Self Doubt
• Fulfillment​
• Increased Awareness​
• Personal Drive and Growth​
• Professional Advocacy

Foreman & Savitsky (2020)​

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Growth Beyond the Impact of our Work

Post-Traumatic Growth

Resilience

Post-Traumatic Growth

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• Encompasses the positive changes in self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and spiritual well-being as a result of working with clients who have been traumatized (Arnold, Calhoun, Tedeschi, & Cann, 2005).​
• Involves a process of re-evaluation of one’s assumptions about the world​
• Meaning making process – impacts our thoughts and beliefs

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Resilience…

• A pattern of positive adaptation in the context of significant risk or adversity  (Masten & Powell, 2003)​
•  Complex multidimensional construct (Wu et al., 2013)​
• Sustained adaptive effort that prevails despite challenge, as bouncing back or recovery from a challenge, and as a process of learning and growth that expands understanding, new knowledge, and new skills (Kent et al., 2014)​
• Increased resilience = increased compassion satisfaction (Litam et al., 2021)

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Cultivating Your Wellness: Tending to Your Self Care

Wellness

• A way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being, in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated.
• Living life more fully within the human and natural community. 
• It is the optimum state of health and well-being that everyone is capable of

Based on: Myers, J., & Sweeney, T. (2008). Wellness counseling: The evidence base for practice. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86, 482-493.​

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Cultivating Self Care

• Being Flexible
• Adaptive to change​
• Humor​
• Positive Thinking​
• Altruism – being generous​
• Supportive and Positive Connections with others​
• Experiences of being adaptive and overcoming challenges​
• Empathy for self

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Self Care: Personal & Professional Strategies​

• Taking time for YOU​
• Be sure to take breaks throughout your day​
• Nourish your body with healthy food, exercise, sleep​
• Reach out and connect with others
• If you are sick, take time to heal​
• Add variety to your workload and work tasks​
• Take time for vacation​
• Reach out and ask for help​
• Reduce time watching/reading news
• Cut out “Doom Scrolling”

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Reflection & Conversation

Share your strengths…

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Wellness Is….

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To sustain my wellness, I will…

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What is 1 thing you are willing to do to tend to YOURSELF this week?

Cultivation Wellness

• Draw a circle
• Add 5 Flower petals around the center
• Physical
• Emotional – expression and creativity
• Mind – presence
• Social – interpersonal, connection
• Nature connection

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Tending to YOU

• Maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits
• Journaling
• Maintaining physical health
• Maintain and cultivate relationships
• Self reflection and self awareness
• Seek personal counseling
• Recognize the ebb and flow of the day
• Make choices that support your wellbeing and enhances positive thinking

Questions

or

Comments

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Thank you for allowing me​ to spend this time with you.​

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Sincerely,

Tamarine

Be Well. Stay Well.