Dear Social Work Educators, Teach and Model Self-Care

Authors

  • Kelly Lynn Clary Texas State University
  • Laura M. Hernandez Texas State University

Keywords:

social work education, self-care, workforce, case study, social work profession

Abstract

A social work educator, I joined with a student to examine the social work profession’s challenges with burnout and self-care, to explore my lived experiences clinically practicing at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and emergency department during the beginning of the Global Pandemic, and to aggregate critical reflections on how to improve teaching strategies for social work students. This reflection focuses on two themes implemented during a fall 2020 social work direct practice course for undergraduates: 1) teaching and 2) modeling self-care strategies and work-life integration. There is no better time than now to promote wellness in the classroom so students have the skills and confidence to continue applying these strategies throughout their careers. If social work instructors are not emphasizing the importance of self-care, who is going to? Social work educators can—and should—utilize their roles to teach and model positive self-care behaviors and work-life integration approaches, exemplifying the imperative nature of upholding one’s wellness.

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Published

2022-03-02

How to Cite

Clary, K. L., & Hernandez, L. M. (2022). Dear Social Work Educators, Teach and Model Self-Care . Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 28(1), 7–20. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1877