1. Thoughts on how mental health professionals can take care of themselves.

• Emphasizing more on self-care practices

• Teaching therapists about mindfulness

• It’s important for therapists to express their feelings and what they go through

• Being able to find the balance between professional life and personal

• Focusing more on your needs and understanding the importance of self-care, release their emotions

• Lack of self-care can lead to secondary stress exposure which is decreased empathy or sense of satisfaction, burnout, fatigue, anxiety etc

• You are still a human even if you are bearing the title of a “healthcare professional”

2. What do you think is the best way to take care of yourself as healthcare professionals?

• Implement a routine for yourself

• Taking short breaks at work is also helpful since it helps to refresh your mind

• You can also consult a therapist yourself and there is no shame in it

• Therapy also offers you a routine

• Taking walks even if it’s for half an hour in the fresh air does aid to lighten up your mood

3. From a therapist’s perspective, what do you think are the barriers to therapists themselves who are seeking out for help.

• Therapists need therapist as well

• The therapy programs are very intensive but they don’t always offer the best insurance 

• The lack of accessibility to a professional is also very high

• The specific technique/needs you might be looking in a professional therapist might not be something that they are specialized in

• We are our own barrier sometimes because we always pretend to be strong but deep down inside we are not so we should release our stress and be okay with how we are feeling inside