![Art Therapy Rx | Self Care Recharge with a Dose of Color: An art therapy activity to address stress and discuss coping skills for physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. [Disponible en Español]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3aba4c_ecd227e2449b447a9be4518996434634~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/3aba4c_ecd227e2449b447a9be4518996434634~mv2.png)
Self-care is important more than ever at this time. I decided to create this post to address this topic not only for our clients but also for myself and all my fellow therapists who follow this blog. The activity that will be covered in this post is a self-care check- in. I invite you to complete the activity and reconnect with yourself. I personally have felt my energy has definitely been much lower nowadays.
![Art Therapy Rx | Self-care Recharge: An art therapy activity to address stress and discuss coping skills for physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. [Disponible en Español]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3aba4c_e956febc308946c489cfe09d0f6e4e94~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_74,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/3aba4c_e956febc308946c489cfe09d0f6e4e94~mv2.png)
When we do not care for ourselves the consequences can be widespread in our lives. In the case of this pandemic, we are being called to find a balance in managing our own emotions and difficulties during this time while also holding space for our clients. This is why we must practice what we preach to our clients, and also find ways to recharge as mental health professionals!
This Art Therapy Rx prescription called, "Self-Care Recharge", is focused on measuring the current state of energy in each area of one's life (i.e physical, emotional, social, and spiritual). When using this activity with a client, it is important to provide a little psychoeducation regarding each area of self-care before starting this activity.
The following prompts can be used to explain each of the 4 areas of self-care
in order to provide an understanding of how to complete the worksheet.
![Art Therapy Rx | Self Care Recharge with a Dose of Color: An art therapy activity to address stress and discuss coping skills for physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. [Disponible en Español]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3aba4c_a64d968656b8423286a69c7907cb4995~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/3aba4c_a64d968656b8423286a69c7907cb4995~mv2.jpg)
How do you care for your body?
How do you express and manage feelings?
How do you stay connected with others?
What makes you feel loved, supported, and cared for?
How do you connect with yourself and/or nature?
This Self-Care Recharge will allow exploration of these 4 areas of self-care by encouraging dialogue, utilizing scaling, and incorporating drawing as a means of expression. Once the client has completed the top portion of the worksheet, measuring their self-care batteries, they will then be asked to create drawings to represent how they can re-energize by implementing new self-care strategies. As a result, the client will be left with a self-care plan to follow. In addition, this worksheet will provide an opportunity to further identify other areas of self-care not listed (i.e. financial, professional, personal/growth, etc.).
So you see this colorful prescription is not just for your clients, it is also for you! So grab some colors and let's get to it! Testing out interventions on yourself can provide some valuable information that can further guide your approach and treatment in therapy!
Questions for Reflection:
What are your self-care practices?
What is a happy and calming memory that helps you find inner peace when you are experiencing inner turmoil?
Take care and be safe!
With Love,
Lauren
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be utilized as a form of self-help, personal clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content on this blog is meant for educational purposes and to provide clinical art therapy directives/resources for trained mental health professionals. This information is by no means a substitute for therapy.
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