As mental health professionals, we often speak to our clients about healthy habits, boundaries, and self-care. But how do you and I model these principles in our own professional lives? More than just the advice you offer, the way you show up in session communicates volumes about your values and sets a powerful example.
You share a lot with a client by having policies, procedures, habits and rules around when you’re available. And this isn’t just a black or white issue, it’s about being intentional and attentive to our clients.
Having a snack at the ready so that your blood sugar doesn’t drop could model self-care to your clients with chronic health issues….
Eating a whole burrito bowl during your 1pm appointment week-after-week? That might signal that you’re don't know how to take time for lunch.
Informing a client that, just for this session, you’ll need to keep your phone close because your kid went to school looking “iffy”, and they might need to come home? There’s care, compromise, creativity…
Constantly glancing away from the telehealth video tab to address notifications from messages? The client might think you're not interested or prepared for their session.
Similarly, if you never address the clients who consistently arrive late, linger past their time, or don't pay their co-pays, it speaks volumes about boundaries beyond what your words could say.
This very newsletter, which comes to you 2-4 times per month, is one way I try to model both creativity and commitment to you.
I know you have responsibilities, goals, fears, pressures, and dreams, and it can be hard to balance it all.
I’m living that too.
It’s nonnegotiable that I embody the values I encourage you to develop in yourself. When I can, I’ll be pulling back the curtain more and sharing behind the scenes of the WP newsletter. That includes telling you more about what I'm up to and the process that makes this happen!
I’m doing this because I want to pop the toxic bubble of comparison.
For now, go ahead! Eat in session!
Rumbly bellies and lethargic therapists are distracting. But then, when you’re done, ask yourself why it came to that in the first place? And if that answer leads to a deeper need, address it when you can.
Love-ya-mean-it!
-Andreana
Supporter Connect and Learn
WP Supporters Live Meeting
Our next workshop topic is called UnBreak Your Brain, and is scheduled for July 9th!
During this live session, we'll walk through a brain-healing plan designed to help you overcome overwhelm and remember how to function under stress.
I'll be pulling action steps from the productivity, neuroscience, systems thinking, existential philosophy, and real-life therapy spaces.
If you want something you can use right away to reclaim yourself and give your personal and professional life your best, workshop is for you.
Become a supporter (one-time or recurring) by June 29th and you'll be auto enrolled!
Join the Next WP Live Workshop
Essential Downloads
Updated EMDR Treatment Plan
The EMDR Treatment Plan, Interventions, and Goals template has been updated with BOTH .pdf and google docs versions.
This should make it much easier to edit!
Anyone who already owned the .pdf-only version have already been granted access to the updated version.
If you use EMDR and don't have this tool already, click below (it's free).
Similar rollouts for the other tools are in the works, so stay tuned!
