Ethical Self-Care and Client Care in a Crisis
Ethical Self-Care and Client Care in a Crisis
SPECIAL FOCUS
How to keep you rself — and your practice — thriving continued from page 10
remove them if possible . Having a clean , stress-free environment frees your mental state from additional worries .
Sometimes the environment alone is too stressful . When it is , change your scenery . Go get a cup of coffee and work out a plan for the change you need . Start by doing just one thing that can be accomplished in 15 minutes . If you want to continue to make another change for an additional 15 minutes , do it . If not , know that you can continue working on this change at bit each day or each week . What is most important is to lower your stress and to realize that even small actions help you make a big change .
See the box on the bottom of page 10 for links to two self-assessments that can help you identify areas of your life that might need attention .
LCMHCs not only often consider everyone else ’ s well-being over our own , we often put the needs of family members , friends , and clients over our own needs . But when we reflect , change our behavior , and make our own self-care primary — care for ourselves first and then those around us — we begin to realize that we have more of ourselves available to others . When we become more aware of our own needs , it is easier to be aware of the needs of our colleagues and how to best assist them .
The American Mental Health Counselors Association ’ s Code of Ethics provides mental health counselors with an outline of the qualities of the relationships between LCMHCs . One statement that stands out in AMHCA ’ s code is the description of the LCMHC ’ s relationship to fellow counselors who are struggling :
“ When CMHCs have knowledge of the impairment , incompetence , or unethical conduct of a mental health professional , they are expected to attempt to rectify the situation . Failing an informal resolution , CMHCs should bring such unethical activities to the attention of the appropriate state licensing board and / or the ethics committee of the professional association .”
— AMHCA Code of Ethics , Revised 2020 , Section II , A-7 , p . 13
The wording in the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics also includes guidance on relationships between colleagues when one is impaired . ( The NASW code separately addresses Incompetence of Colleagues — 2.09 , and Unethica Conduct of Colleagues — 2.10 .)
Whether impairment occurs because of the stress of daily living , or it occurs as part of responding to a crisis , the social workers code calls for immediate action to resolve the problem . The tone of the code is one of compassion , not punishment , to assist the colleague to be able to return to full functioning .
( a ) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague ’ s impairment that is due to personal problems , psychosocial distress , substance abuse , or mental health difficulties and that interferes with practice effectiveness should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the colleague in taking remedial action .
— NASW Code , Revised 2021 , Section 2 , item 2.08a )
Why talk about caring for ourselves and each other , including the need to discuss impairment ? Because living in a post-pandemic world has changed everything . As the U . S . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in October 2023 on the mental health crisis being faced by health workers : “ The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified many health workers ’ long-standing challenges and contributed to new and worsening concerns including compassion fatigue , depression , anxiety , substance use disorders
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The Advocate Magazine 2024 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) ww . amhca . org 11