Healthy Living Through Self-Care

Last month, I led a Self-Care Training  for our partners at Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI). The training was aimed at teaching counselors and case managers why self-care is important, how to engage with their clients around self-care and how to use these techniques to take better care of themselves.

Alicia bowling with Family Center youth. Recreational activities are a good way to reduce stress.

Self-care is when we meet our own needs in an effort to engage in over-all healthy and positive living. When we engage in self-care we are being mindful of how we take care of ourselves and make ourselves feel good. Lack of self-care can cause stress and feelings of being over-whelmed, tired, or sick. Self-care skills help us deal with everyday life situations and stresses. For example, self-care skills can help us:

• Handle getting our kids up and out of the house in time for school;
• Take care of ourselves when there does not seem to be enough time in the day; and
• Manage medical, physical, and emotional needs.

At The Family Center, we meet many clients who don’t take care of themselves well when they first enroll in our services. As a counselor, I have seen that when I successfully engage clients in developing self-care awareness and their family skills, they go on to lead healthier, happier lives. When I work with a client about self-care our focus is on:

• Understanding what makes them feel cared for;
• Meeting their needs;
• Balancing their needs with the needs of the family;
• Enhancing personal relationships;
• Managing their health; and
• Investing in themselves and making themselves a priority.

We at The Family Center work hard to promote healthy living and self-care. If you are interested in keeping our New York  families stronger, longer, please click here to see how you can help.

-Alicia Spengler, L.M.H.C

---