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Art Therapy and Creative Wisdom

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For Therapists

Therapists 8 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Emotional Burn-out

For Therapists: 8 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Emotional Burn-out

1. Take Your Self-Care Seriously

Self-care matters, and therapists aren’t always so good at it. I’ve written several blog posts on the subject, ranging from specific things that therapists can do in and between sessions (so as not to become vicariously traumatised) through to things that therapists can do in their leisure time.

16 Ways that Counsellors and Therapists Protect Themselves From Getting Traumatised

Mantras and Visualisations for Trauma Therapists

Floating Your Boat: Self-Care for Therapists & Counsellors

7 ideas for hidden self-care for therapists

6 Essential Self-Care Books for Therapists

2. Find Really Good CPD

I find that quality CPD (Continuing Professional Development) adds a lot of fresh energy and sparkle to my feelings about my client work. It can also give me new ideas and information to add to (and sometimes transform) how I serve my clients. You can also, of course, keep on learning new techniques and approaches through reading, watching therapist videos online, and through discussions with peers.

You may pick up a new idea from these articles, too:

Using Stones in Counselling and Therapy

Sandtray: a Way to Access Your Deep Knowing

What is Art Therapy?

What is AEDP?

Trauma Therapy Has Changed – Here’s How

3. Work Online

There are pros and cons to working online, and it doesn’t suit every client, nor every therapist. Personally, I find it can be remarkably effective, for those who are attracted to the many benefits of seeing their therapist (or their therapy client!) online.

If you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, as regards getting your documentation together for online therapy, I have made things a bit easier for you! I have made available four documents – an Online Therapist’s Pack – which you can buy as a bundle for just £9.99. These include (1) an online client contract, (2) a therapist information sheet, (3) a risk assessment tool, and (4) an example of a GDPR consent form. All of these are intended to be adapted and altered to suit your unique situation and needs. You can access it instantly – right now! – by going to Get My Online Therapist’s Pack

Here are a few other useful resources for therapists and clients about online therapy:

Online Therapy: an Introductory Guide for Art Psychotherapists

The Online Therapist’s Daily Checklist

Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Online Counselling

Can Art Therapists Work Online?

Online Creative Arts Supervision Group

4. Get Back on the Couch

Having a bout of therapy yourself can be deeply supportive and can help you do your best work when you’re with your clients. You might like to get inspired and energised by trying something a bit different — you might look for a therapist who specialises in (to give just a few examples) Art Psychotherapy, AEDP, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt, Coherence Therapy, or a somatically-based psychotherapy.

I’m a huge fan of therapy for therapists, and I practise what I preach. Personally, I find regular sessions with my own therapist are absolutely invaluable. I’ve even written about it:

Therapy Works. Here’s How I Know

The Crucial Thing Every Therapist Should Know

Top 10 Things I Love About Being a Therapist

Therapists: 8 ways you can protect your capacity for empathy, your most valuable therapy tool Click To Tweet

5. Get Involved in a Creative Workshop, Group or Class

Look out for a creative workshop or group that you can join. Singing, drama, painting, pottery — being creative in a group can be very restorative and healing. Currently these have shifted to being held online, so that we can access them while practising social distancing.

Periodically I run enjoyable, depth-oriented small-group workshops on Creative Self-Care for Therapists, where participants have fun and get creative whilst experiencing some grounded practical techniques and strategies for self-care. I’m looking at possibly shifting these to an online format, too.

Here’s my guided visualisation for helping you to connect to your creativity:

Women in Depth: Connecting to Your Creativity

6. Get Great Supervision

Supervision, whether it’s one-to-one or part of a small group, can be vital for helping you feel supported and connected, and for making sure you’re working as effectively and ethically as possible. As a clinical supervisor, I use a relational model.

Supervision

Online Creative Group Supervision

7. Find Resources to Support Your Clients

When your clients have access to good information that supports their personal growth and mental health, they can work more effectively with you. And when you and your clients are working together effectively, you’ll find that the therapy process can feel a lot more rewarding, for both of you.

You may find these articles useful for your clients:

The Therapy Process

How to Cope with Therapy Breaks

Therapy Breaks: When You or Your Therapist are Away

Does Your Therapist Get It Wrong?

Should I Quit Counselling/ Psychotherapy?

How to get the Most out of your Therapy or Counselling

First Counselling Session: 12 Things You Need to Know

Do Therapists Love Their Clients?

The Beginner’s Guide to Finding a Good Therapist in Essex

Weekly Therapy – Why Therapists Recommend Weekly Sessions

Feel More Secure Inside with Attachment Based Therapy

Coaching or Therapy: What do I Need?

7 Myths About Coaching vs Therapy

Therapy Works. Here’s How I Know

Why NOW Could be the Perfect Time to go to Therapy

How Can Art Therapy Help?

Sandtray Therapy, a Way to Access Your Deep Knowing

Attachment – A Beginner’s Guide

Secure Attachment – What Is It and How Do I Get It?

What is AEDP?

Trauma Therapy Has Changed – Here’s How

EMDR therapy – What is it?

Sleep

The Creative Person’s Guide to Getting Better Sleep

How to Stop Lying Awake Worrying

Sensitive and Creative

Highly Sensitive (HSP)

Podcasts for Creative Sensitive Women

Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Online Counselling

5-Minute Soothing Exercise for HSP’s

Six Ways to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person HSP in London

Art Wounds and the Sensitive Person

Guided Visualisation: Connecting to Your Creativity

Feelings and Anxiety

Body Check-In, Your Secret Tool for Self-Awareness

Emotions: 17 Things You Need to Know About Your Feelings

Health Anxiety and the Creative Sensitive Person

How to Calm Down: Tree Visualisation

The Creative Person’s Guide to Managing Feelings

Addicted to Worrying?

What is PTSD?

How to Manage Your Climate Anxiety

Emotional First-Aid Kit

Self-Help

Inspiring Self-Help Books for Women

Help Heal Anxiety and Depression With This Morning Routine

Handling Panic Attacks: 7 Simple Tools You Can Use

Heartfelt Summer Fiction Recommended by Therapists

Your Three Chairs

Become an Artist, part 1: Explore Your Stories

Do You Sometimes Feel Like a Fraud?

Impostor Syndrome: How to Release Yourself

How to Feel Better From Crying

9 Signs Crying Isn’t Helping You – and How to Change that

Well-Meant Advice That’s Just Wrong

Self-Sufficient? Why Getting Help is the Ultimate DIY

Why You Need to be a Good Parent to Yourself and How to do it

New Year’s Resolutions and the Creative Person

How to Love Yourself

Anything Else You’d Suggest?

What else have you found helpful? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And if (like me) you’re a psychotherapist who provides therapy to other therapists and counsellors, you might like to add your website name and your geographical area so others know how to find you!

*If you know where the quote ‘midwife to someone else’s becoming’ originally comes from, please tell me!

Information on this website is meant for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychological evaluation or treatment. If you are concerned about your mental or physical health, please see a medical doctor or mental health professional to address your concerns. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or impulses, please dial 999 or 911 to seek emergency treatment immediately. Emma Cameron does not provide emergency mental health treatment. All text and images on this site ©Emma Cameron 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and may not be copied, published or used without permission. ©Emma Cameron All Rights Reserved

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  • What is PTSD?
  • Why NOW Could Be the Perfect Time to Go to Therapy

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