Death Crisis
I believe that dealing with the death crisis would be my greatest challenge. “Each feeling
is real for each person” (Wright, 2011, p. 200), and each person copes with it differently. Death
leaves a void for a loved one or a friend. My job as the counselor is not just to respond but to
understand that many areas of one's life have been disrupted, and those disruptions can cause
deep sorrow that takes different healing journeys.
Optimal Strategies for self-care
Wright (2011) encourages the counselor to tend to any stress, pressure, or tension in their
own life before attempting to help in a crisis (p. 128). Dealing with a death crisis can take a toll
on the counselor's life, emotionally, mentally, and physically. As a counselor, I will not be able
to minister and help someone in crisis if I do not take care of myself first. Luke 6:45 says, “A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks”
(NLJV). I need to make sure I am in flow with the Spirit so the spillover can bless someone else
(Ortberg, 2010, p. 42). I must always stay connected to God. My devotion time in the morning
helps me get through each day. As Pettit (2008) says, “We do not take the spiritual life seriously
if we do not set aside time to be with God and listen to him” (p. 140). We must empty ourselves,
surrender everything, and ask God to fill us with his love, patience, and compassion, so we can
be a bridge of hope to our counselees who need a hand.
Besides taking care of our spiritual life, as counselors, we must structure a healthy
lifestyle, including our eating, sleeping, and exercise habits (Kottler, 2011). Jesus was the
perfect example demonstrating that we can serve God and others while caring for ourselves.
Throughout
the New Testament, we see how Jesus took time away from the crowds to rest, eat and spend
time with the father. Besides our spiritual discipline, our body needs rest and recharge.
Performing exercise routines strengthens the brain, which is responsible for better decision-
making, planning, organization, and rational thinking (Bradberry & Greaves, 2009). God worked
six days, rested on the seventh day, and called it the Sabbath day. We can best take care of
ourselves by living the Sabbath. God knew that we would grow weary and tired. That is why he
created the Sabbath. Implementing these self-care strategies in our lives will help us live a life
flowing with the spirit in all areas, and the spillover will be beautiful. It will be a healthy and
positive spillover to our weary, tired, and hopeless counselees.
References
Bradberry, T., Greaves, J., & Lencioni, P. M. (2009, June 16). Emotional Intelligence 2.0
(31565th ed.). TalentSmart.
Kottler, J. A. (2011). The therapist's workbook: Self-assessment, self-care, and
self-improvement exercises for mental health professionals. John Wiley & Sons,
Incorporated.
Ortberg, J. (2014). The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God’s Best Version of You. Zondervan.
Pettit, P. (2008). Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach to Becoming
Like Christ (Illustrated). Kregel Academic & Professional.
Wright, N. H. (2011, December 14). The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What
to Do and Say When It Matters Most! (Updated, Expanded ed.). Bethany House
Publishers.
