We all have basic needs as human beings ranging from physical needs to psychological needs. Many theories of need exist from Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs ( Maslow, 1943) Glassers Basic Needs theory (1998) to Basic Psychological Needs theory (Ryan, 1995). Many of us as practitioners are working with people supporting them around meeting these needs in one way or another  and have a professional understanding of this.

However in reality, our own needs can be ignored at times, demoted and pushed further out to accommodate those around us both personally and professionally. It’s common to have blind spots in this area where we have no idea that such is the case and awareness of and attending to these basic fundamentals just doesn’t happen. As human beings this is problematic for wellbeing and balance. But as practitioners working with people, it’s even more fundamental to have a conscious awareness of this for the following reasons -

• When our own basic needs...

When it comes to professional self-care, it takes more than a check list and good intentions to make it work. Many practitioners who work with people are very much aware of what the self-care principles are, what areas need attention and tending to and even how to do these things.

Often it part of our jobs to support others in taking care of themselves and supporting their wellbeing, be it physical, mental or emotional. Our support and services can even be the key element that moves the dial for our clients, from a place of struggle to a place of balance and wellbeing.

So why is it that many of us struggle over the longer term to care for and protect ourselves from the inevitable challenges of our work? Why is that we often find ourselves lamenting that we just don’t have the time or space to "do self-care". Why is it that it often becomes an additional extra at the end of a long and unrelenting professional and personal to-do list? And why, knowing all we know in supporting...

In the ever demanding world of the helping professions, where your primary focus is on others, it's easy to neglect your own well-being. However, practitioner-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Just as an airplane safety demonstration advises you to secure your oxygen mask first before assisting others, as a practitioner, you must prioritize your own self-care to avoid burnout and provide the best care possible to those you serve. In this blog post, we will explore how you can give yourself permission for self-care and ensure your long-term success as a practitioner in the helping professions.

1. Acknowledge the Importance of Practitioner-Care

As a helping professional, you are dedicated to supporting others, but it's crucial to recognize that your well-being matters too. Self-care isn't selfish; it's an act of self-preservation. Embrace the understanding that taking care of yourself enables you to show up fully for your clients, colleagues, and loved ones.

2. Reflect on Your...

A trauma-informed lens, when applied to workplace leadership, involves recognizing and understanding the potential impact of trauma on individuals within the organization. It involves creating a supportive and safe environment that takes into account the unique needs and experiences of employees who may have experienced trauma.

Here are some key aspects of a trauma-informed approach in workplace leadership:

1. Awareness and Knowledge: Leaders who adopt a trauma-informed lens educate themselves about the effects of trauma and its potential prevalence among their workforce. They understand that trauma can result from various sources, such as abuse, violence, accidents, or significant life events.

2. Safety and Trust: Trauma-informed leaders prioritize creating a sense of safety and trust within the workplace. They establish policies and practices that promote physical and emotional safety for employees. This can include clear communication, respectful interactions, and confidentiality.

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When we work with clients and patients, any reflective practice we do is often focused on the client work alone. While this is of course central, it is only one aspect of the ecosystem. In order to create a sustainable practice , we need to tend to all aspects to ensure best practice and outcomes for clients, practitioner wellbeing and professional progression.

Full -Spectrum Reflective Practice take a wholistic approach to practitioner care and tend to all aspects that impact our wellbeing, we have created a practice that tends to the practitioners, their clients, their practice as a whole and the dynamic relationship between these 3 pillars. Without attention  to all areas, we miss the opportunity for true reflection on what impacts up personally and professionally with our work and create blind spots and energy blocks that inhibit our pathway. 

In order to create a sustainable practice, we need to ensure that our own needs are met as well as our clients. When we work...

When we work with people in a supportive role, be it through the therapeutic modalities, allied & alternative health professions or in a coaching or mentoring capacity, the most important resource we have is ourselves.  All the tools, techniques , modalities and knowledge we use is nothing without a resourced and resilient practitioner behind it . You are the golden goose!

We all know the importance of self-care, but when we work as practitioners with people, this must be brought to a whole new level. It must become front and central to our practice as the energetic exchange and exposure that happens within our system when working with people in these capacities, leaves us at higher risk of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout. Self-care is not just scented candles and bubble bath! And a robust practitioner-care plan must that a wholistic and multi-level approach. 

With this in mind, I’ve created the practitioner-care collective in response to...

Finally feels like Spring is here!! After what for many was another tough winter, seeing that stretch in the evenings, even if it's still cold is so heartening. Over the many years I worked in the world of natural healing and plant medicine, Springtime was the green light to GO. Coming out of sedentary winter, with heavier foods, less light and exercise, the natural tendency to throw open the windows and blow away the cobwebs is strong, as Spring is a time for cleansing, clearing and rejuvenating. 

My understanding of the philosophy of Natural Healing as always influenced my therapeutic work with clients and supervisees. Aligning with the natural flow is something that I teach people as a tool to resources and replenish themselves in the face of our daily challenges in life and the workplace. Nature is not only outside of us, it's also inside of us and given the correct environment and understanding, we can allow our systems to come back to a place of balance naturally. 

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