Tag Archives: self care

Crisis care training opportunity


For those of you who have been following my work over the years, you know that I have travelled quite a bit recently providing trainings with Crisis Care International in places to support local leaders learning best crisis care practices (AKA psychological first aid). In the last year, we provided in person trainings in Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey, and Morocco as well as here in the United States.

Crisis care is not just for mental health providers but any humanitarian can learn the essentials to provide support and encouragement for those in the middle of a crisis. If you are interested in learning a bit more of the essentials, my colleague Stacey Sutherland will be offering a 2 hour overview online on January 18, 2024. Here’s the link to see more about what the training is all about: https://crisiscareinternational.networkforgood.com/events/66056-essential-crisis-care-basics

This is the abstract for the training:

Join us for a comprehensive online event that equips responders with the essential crisis care basics they need to know. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to people in crisis. From understanding the basics of trauma to the fundamentals of trauma assessment and psychological first aid our experts will cover it. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn in an engaging and participatory format. Thank you for joining us! Please spread the word. Your participation and giving help us make training available to everyone.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Complex Trauma: Going Deeper, By Diane Langberg


As part of our staff meeting today we watched this video by Diane Langberg. It reviews the 3 stages of typical trauma recovery process plus focuses on the impact of the work on the counselor. Self-care is a common conversation these days. However, a few lines stuck out to me:

Unless we take care of ourselves, we will not be able to bear witness…. Vicarious trauma is not something done to us but a consequence of having empathy…. Evil and suffering also provide an opportunity to expose the weak places in [the counselor]…. Seek out the antidotes to the poison that you sit with…[these antidotes] are not just good coping mechanisms but part and parcel to living the life obedient to God.

1 Comment

Filed under counseling, counseling skills, Counselors, Diane Langberg, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suffering, trauma, Uncategorized

Self-care or stewardship?


Last night, Dr. Tan (Fuller) spoke on the topic of self-care. During the presentation he interacted with Dr. Sally Schwer Canning’s short essay in a previous Journal of Psychology & Christianity issue (2001, v 30, p 70-74). Dr. Canning raised some concerns about self-care and “balance” language. We all know that we can get out of balance and that we do need to do things to care for ourselves. However, there are times, Dr. Tan said, that we are put out of balance by God. He reminded us of Paul’s statement that he was overwhelmed to the point of despairing of life. He was ship-wrecked and more.

In the name of self-care, we sometimes put up inappropriate boundaries.

Both Tan and Canning suggest that “stewardship” may be a better image for us to us? How are we stewarding the gifts and resources we have, even when life is out of balance?

What do you think? Does stewardship get the same point as self-care?

5 Comments

Filed under AACC, christian counseling

Counselor Self Care


One of my former students, Eartha Holland, just got a short essay published by the Black American Association of Christian Counselors (BAACC). She had some really good points so I got permission from her to post her page here. Some good reminders of the necessity of caring for our own souls.Eartha-BAACC Self Care Article

1 Comment

Filed under christian counseling, counseling