Maintaining Self Care for Critical Services
Mental health and self-care are critical to our staff at Waypoint, and a key component in how we empower more than 20,000 people each year. Secondary trauma is commonly encountered in professions that involve caring for and helping others. When clients reach out for services, they are doing so at incredibly traumatic times of their lives while navigating housing instability, a relationship that isn’t safe, the sudden loss of a loved one, an experience of violence, or a mix of these circumstances. Our staff do heavy emotional work by supporting each client through grief, trauma, and stress, and this sometimes leads to secondary trauma.
To continue providing quality services to clients and maintain healthy personal lives outside of work, our staff makes commitments to taking care of themselves. This month, I asked, and am honored to share, the self-care work that some of our staff members use to take care of their mental health:
Alexis Chadwick, Domestic Violence Victim Services Program Coordinator 
"Laughter and joy are a big part of my self-care routine. I’ m fortunate because most days after work, I’m able to pick up my 4-year-old son and enjoy a 20-minute car ride home with him before joining my 6-year-old at home and eating dinner together with my partner. During the car ride and around the dinner table, we laugh, talk about silly things, hear about each of our “favorite parts of the day,” and just enjoy being with each other. We always say I love you and there is never a shortage of hugs and kisses. This helps me stay grounded in the work and thankful for everything in life, even the hard stuff."
Roz Houser, Coordinated Entry Call Center Manager
“I take care of my mental health during work by taking keep breaths, clearing my thoughts and keeping myself focused on what we can do to assist someone. I don’t dwell on the situations we aren’t able to help with. I also am grateful for the blessing and support that I have. Outside of work, spending time with family and friends helps me to be in the moment and enjoy my life.”
Monique Washington, Homicide Victim Advocate
“I find a sense of grounding that is crucial in balancing the emotional weight of my advocacy work. Through three self-care practices:
My strong Christian faith plays a significant role in my self- care. While I acknowledge that I am not perfect, my spirituality offers me guidance and strength. It encourages me to seek forgiveness and understanding, reminding me of the importance of compassion in both my personal and professional life.
Swimming is another vital part of my self-care routine. The process of moving through water and improving proper techniques helps me concentrate on what I need to do to improve and learn new strokes. I am forced to concentrate on ME.
There’s also yoga in the garden in the summer months and hot yoga in the fall and winter. The meditative aspects of yoga help me to cultivate resilience and emotional clarity. All these self-care practices help me better support my families I work with.”
Alexis, Roz, and Monique all show that self-care is something that is both valued and unique to each person. With this variety, there is also unity in that these are all used to help keep staff centered on our mission inspiring people to move forward.
Below are different ways to cope with secondary trauma:
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Set boundaries
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Get enough rest
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Eat healthy foods
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Be active
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Connect with supportive friends and loved ones
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Use peer support
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Get fresh air
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Journal
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Practice mindfulness
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Talk to a counselor
Caring for others is a profound and meaningful calling. It must also be balanced by remembering we can’t pour from an empty cup. Prioritizing time to rest, seeking support, and giving yourself the same compassion you offer so freely to those in need is essential in our line of work. The well-being of our staff matters just as much as the lives we touch.
To our incredible staff and other professionals who may experience secondary trauma - thank you. Your work changes lives. Keep taking care of yourself, because you are deeply valued, not just for what you do, but for who you are.
-Thoughts by:
Alexis Chadwick, Domestic Violence Victim Services Program Coordinator
Roz Houser, Coordinated Entry Call Center Manager
Monique Washington, Homicide Victim Advocate
Jade Riley, Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator
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