5: Elements of Self-Care
- Page ID
- 237274
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Increase your knowledge of using assessment to determine client functioning in the areas of self-care.
- Understand how Myers and Sweeney organized the areas of self-care into specific domains and how to determine functioning in each domain.
- Examine how cultural aspects impact an individual’s perspective of self-care in their lives.
The Indivisible Self
Self-Care can be best understood as disseminated into a variety of parts or areas of wellness. An online search of areas of wellness will reveal a list of seven to nine items that can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: social, emotional, spiritual, vocational/occupational, financial, environmental, physical, and cognitive/intellectual. These areas are designed to represent the various domains that humans’ function within. By examining functioning in each area an individual can determine if there is a need for improvement, providing a map for “self-care” with the goal being the achievement of coming as close to balancing the dimensions as closely as possible to achieve wellness in overall functioning (Myers & Sweeney, 2004).
The most efficient way to map an individual’s wellness is to assess where they are in each area at any given time. This provides a snapshot whereby a plan of action can be developed to address zones that need improvement and to celebrate parts that are currently strong. Most people ebb and flow throughout their lifetime in the various areas depending on life circumstances such as job losses, relationships, and other situations that affect the different domains.
The Wellness in 8 Dimensions assessment incorporates the dimensions of social, emotional, financial, physical, occupational, intellectual, environmental, and spiritual wellness. Users gain insight into how these dimensions affect their longevity and overall quality of life and can use results to determine self-care goals.
The following is a user-friendly assessment (Swarbrick & Yudof, 2014): Wellness in 8 Dimensions Assessment – Wellness Institute.
Myers and Sweeney (2004) ultimately organized the vast number of categories of wellness into five primary domains of self; creative, coping, physical, social, and essential. The creative self includes the areas of thinking, emotion, control, humor, and work. The coping self includes leisure, stress-management, self-worth, and realistic beliefs. The physical self includes exercise and nutrition. The social self includes friendship and love, and the essential self includes spirituality, gender identity, cultural identity, and self-care. This organization was based on holism or the indivisibility of the various parts of the self which was proposed by Alfred Adler who emphasized a focus on the whole entity, rather than its individual parts. This text will explore each of these five domains in detail for use with yourself and with your clients.
It Is Important to note that this process is entirely subjective. For example, an individual who holds a job that is highly satisfying, but low paying, might rate their financial wellness as high, whereas another individual who values high pay would rate any position with low pay as low in financial wellness.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Wellness is dependent on a variety of factors. (Photo by Thirdman from Pexels.)
Satisfaction with each area and individual preference is imperative in determining wellness. This is especially important for a counselor to note with regards to awareness of taking care to not impose our values onto the client when assessing client wellness.
Self-Care and Cultural Aspects
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Every voice in the circle holds a story shaped by culture, identity, and the effects of systematic stress. (Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels.)
When working with a class or a client, cultural aspects should always be considered. Many of our colleagues, students, and clients are affected by racism and other forms of oppression which can affect mental and physical health. Unfortunately, many counselors have not had the conceptual foundation or possess the necessary knowledge to understand the ways oppression is experienced and causes stress by those we work with (Harrell, 2000). The experience of oppression alone, then coupled with being asked to prove the existence of having experienced it, watching family and friends experience it, and the continual reminders of the inequities in society in the media all contribute to this stress. This stress can affect wellness in many domains including mental, physical, spiritual, and social.
Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Awareness is only the first step; meaningful allyship requires listening, learning, and acting with intention. (Photo by Nicholas Swatz from Pexels.)
Individuals who experience oppression and/or discrimination may respond differently to self-care assessments and interventions. We need to ask ourselves “How does this individual’s membership to this cultural group affect the way events are defined, or the way the level of stressfulness is evaluated?” (Slavin et al., 1991, p. 159). We need to consider the client or students’ level of acculturation and how our standard stress models and self-care interventions may need to be altered to fit their beliefs and values. (Slavin et al., 1991).
Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Awareness and respect for differences is key to effective treatment planning. (Photo by Matheus Viana from Pexels.)
Many marginalized groups have found support in community and/or collectivist-based wellness opportunities and have lacked the individual power and control to make choices regarding their wellness. As counselors we need to be aware of these collective, lived experiences that can be incorporated into a wellness plan. Ayerveda, a Hindu spiritual practice which incorporates aspects of mind, body, and spirit is often practiced in group setting featuring yoga or meditation. Rootwork, an Afro-Indigenous generational healing tradition involves healing oneself and the community through focus on self-determination, self-empowerment, and spiritual growth. These are just two examples of communal interventions (Gamby et al., 2021).
Consider the section above on the history of self-care that references how the Black Panther Party influenced the self-care movement. From the perspective of African Americans, this was not about wellness as much as it was about survival. This same can be true for any marginalized group.
- When you think about the different areas of wellness (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, cognitive, intellectual, and environmental) are there any additional areas/categories you would add.
- What do you think about how Myers & Sweeney grouped areas of wellness in their Indivisible Self theory?
- What are your thoughts on the cultural aspects mentioned in this chapter? Are there any additional considerations you can think of?
These reflection questions are also available as a PDF download: Elements of Self-Care
References
Gamby, K., Burns, D., & Forristal, K. (2021). Wellness decolonized: The history of wellness and recommendations for the counseling field. Journal of Mental Health Counseling (43) 3, 228-245. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.43.3.05
Harrell, S. P. (2000). A multidimensional conceptualization of racism-related stress: Implications for the well-being of people of color. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 42-57. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0087722
Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2004). The indivisible self: An evidence-based model of wellness. Journal of Individual Psychology, 60(3), 234-245.
Slavin, L. A., Rainer, K. L., McCreary, M. L., & Gowda, K. K. (1991). Toward a multicultural model of the stress process. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70(1), 156-163. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1991.tb01578.x
Swarbrick, P., & Yudof, J. (2023). Wellness in eight dimensions. Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) Wellness Institute. https://cspnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Wellness_8D.pdf