Helping people with disabilities reach their employment goals can be incredibly rewarding. But it’s also demanding—emotionally, mentally, and physically. That’s why self-care isn’t just something extra. It’s something essential.
Why It Matters
When you take care of yourself, you're better able to care for others. For vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors, regular self-care can:
- Lower stress and anxiety.
- Improve focus and job satisfaction.
- Support better outcomes for the people you serve.
In one study of 147 VR counselors, researchers found four burnout profiles—from well-adjusted to disconnected. Counselors who practiced mindfulness, especially awareness and non-judging, showed fewer signs of burnout. (Lu et al., 2023)
Self-care isn’t just helpful. It’s part of your ethical responsibility as a helping professional.
Strategies
These simple, research-based strategies can help you recharge, set healthy boundaries, and stay grounded in the work you care about.
Use Mindfulness to Reconnect
Mindfulness helps you manage stress and stay emotionally steady. Practices like breathing exercises and body awareness can reduce overthinking and boost well-being.
Check Your Emotions Regularly
Paying attention to how you feel helps you respond—not just react. When emotions run high, try this:
- Step away from the situation, emails, and news.
- Set limits you can realistically keep.
- Notice your feelings without judgment.
Get more tips on checking your emotions:
Build a Support Network
Self-care doesn’t mean going it alone. Peer support makes a difference.
- Schedule regular team check-ins and breaks.
- Make space for honest conversations about stress.
- Encourage a culture that respects boundaries.
Get more ideas here:
Practice Self-Compassion
Treat yourself like you would a valued client. Research shows self-compassion helps reduce burnout, trauma fatigue, and stress. It can even improve how you show up in your work. (Crego et al., 2022)
Try this:
Take a Self-Compassion Break
When you feel overwhelmed, pause and say to yourself:
- "This is hard right now."
- "Others feel this way too."
- "I deserve kindness—just like anyone else."
Adapted from Kristin Neff’s 3-step self-compassion break.
Write Yourself a Letter
Write a letter to yourself as if you were writing to a friend, acknowledge the hard stuff, offer encouragement, and highlight your strengths.
Use this guide to get started:
Make Self-Care Part of Your Routine
Self-care helps you stay grounded, satisfied, and consistent in the support you provide to others. It also helps meet your ethical responsibilities as a VR professional.
Learn more about developing a self-care plan:
Start Small – Start Now
Self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Small steps, taken regularly, can keep you energized, focused, and ready to do your best work. When you care for yourself, you build your capacity to care for others.
You deserve that care. And so do the people you serve.