Self-care…the phrase that pushes us to recognize our needs and manage them in a healthy manner but a phrase that continues to feel so elusive. Within the helping field, in particular, we are told the importance of finding our niche of personal care and pursuing that niche on a continued basis in hopes of managing the difficulties associated with helping others. We are told it is a necessity to avoid burnout and to be the best we can for those we help. What we are not told is how hard it is to balance it all and the guilt that can come from not finding the perfect balance.

Self-care means choosing behaviors that balance the effects of emotional and physical stressors: exercising, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, practicing yoga or meditation or relaxation techniques, abstaining from substance abuse, pursuing creative outlets, engaging in psychotherapy. (Psychology Today)

Sounds fantastic right?! A work-life balance to help us feel fulfilled in all aspects of our lives and not become burdened by the torment that our clients endure. However having been in the field for a number of years, self-care continues to feel just out of grasp. Like it is just out of arms reach as the idea of balancing our needs with those we serve can present with concern about giving less to our clients as a result. So self-care can often be ridden with guilt…guilt about not being able to manage or guilt about not providing enough to those you serve or guilt about not being perfect. 

So how to manage in fields that demand so much of ourselves? 

• Recognize that you are just as important as those you serve. 
• Understand you will be more equipped to help others if you feel fulfilled.
• Engagement in the tasks you prescribe to your clients provides more insight into its benefits.

Simple enough, right?  We need to find a balance in order to thrive without guilt if we aren’t constantly perfect in the balance of life-work. Life happens to constantly keep us on our toes and throw us off…so in order to begin and continue self-care is to understand that it is okay if you are not perfect of at, as long as you continuously try to simplistically thrive.

Thrive Art Therapy, LLC is happy to announce our new Saturday group.  Connections is an art therapy based process group that will run for 6 weeks with differing themes.  June 9th - July 14th 2018 the theme will be loss and trauma.  Running from 10:30 am- 12pm, cost is $40 per session, including supplies.  

Thrive Art Therapy, LLC is now running a Sunday afternoon group weekly.  We offer the group and supplies for $40 per session.  This Sunday group begins at 3:30 pm which coincides well with that #Sundayslump many helping professionals experience. 

Starting to branch out on your own is tough to say the least. WHO KNEW there were so many non therapeutic things attached to starting a private practice?! I sure didn’t or at least avoided thinking about that portion of starting a business.

From finding a spot that feels right, to developing and securing a business structure, to agreeing upon decisions with your business partner...there are so many things to consider when trying to carefully and thoughtfully build a practice that will best serve the community in which you want to thrive. It’s like you turn into a salesman which is in complete contrast to what you’ve been taught when helping and supporting people. Salesman, therapist...salesman, therapist. Where’s the balance? 

But then there comes a moment...when the pieces start to fall together and instead of only being navigated by feeling overwhelmed, you start to feel excited about the possibilities of building a foundation that you have total control over. Allowing you to drive the type of therapeutic services that inspire you.  Focusing on the communities and individuals that inspire you. The excitement has you convinced that the overwhelmed feelings will eventually subside and comfort will take over. Comfort in the investment you have created to therapeutically assist others; comfort in calling the shots; comfort in building your vision to thrive. 

Now this comfort doesn’t have us blind to the endless amount of work needed to sustain a thriving business BUT it does provide us hope and drive to push through the difficult times.

Thrive Art Therapy, LLC is now accepting supervision candidates.  We offer individual supervision by appointment for one hour biweekly at $40 per session or group sessions.  Sunday evenings beggining June 3rd will be our first round of group supervision.  The group will run approximately 1.5 hours depending on number of participants and the fee will be reduced from $40 per person to $30 per person if there are three or more participants who sign up.