Self-Care in Christian Counseling in Chicago: Finding Balance and Purpose
Self-Care in Christian Counseling: Beyond Pampering
As a Christian Counselor in Chicago, I work with many people who feel exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, and burned out. The topic of self-care often comes up during our sessions, so I want to take a moment to explore what self-care truly means, how it can help, and what won’t have an impact on how you feel long-term.
What is Self-care?
When you hear the word "self-care," what comes to mind? Pampering yourself, taking a walk, a day off, getting a massage, or doing a hobby you enjoy? While these activities can certainly be forms of self-care, they are only a small part of what it truly means to care for yourself.
Understanding Self-Care: More Than a Trend
Self-care gained popularity as workplace burnout became a more widely recognized issue affecting employees' mental and emotional well-being. It highlighted the need for actionable solutions to address the symptoms of burnout and the challenges of a relentless work culture.
While burnout is often associated with work life, it can manifest in other areas. As a Christian counselor in Chicago, I see clients experience burnout in their relationships, ongoing family situations, or areas of community involvement. Symptoms may be confused with those of depression, such as fatigue, lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed, or feeling overwhelmed by mundane tasks. However, when you look deeper, these symptoms often trace back to a specific situation where you have pushed yourself beyond your emotional and mental ability.
What Drives Christians to Push Beyond Limits?
There are many causes of burnout, but one common thread I’ve seen in Christian counseling is that when clients push themselves beyond their limits, it is often connected to their sense of purpose. Whether it’s related to a career, the well-being of a family member, or a cause shared with our community, these meaningful pursuits tug at our hearts and many times end up clashing with our values.
When we become overly focused on feeling purposeful in these areas, it can become exhausting, especially because our sense of purpose is closely tied to our identity and self-worth. This often leads to overcommitting, saying "yes" to too many requests, feeling obligated to problem solve, working extra hours, skipping meals, neglecting sleep, or feeling like you need to earn your rest.
Finding Purpose Through Self-Care in Christian Counseling
The self-care movement has been explored as a crucial step toward healing symptoms of burnout. More than just taking time off to pamper yourself, true self-care involves intentional self-reflection to bring awareness to the root causes of stress, exhaustion, and fatigue. It involves learning skills to manage stress and set healthy boundaries, allowing you to engage in what you value in a more balanced way.
In Christian counseling, I help adults connect with their faith and relationship with God to understand where they seek their sense of identity and reconnect with what God says about who they truly are. Together, we explore moments when identity starts to be shaped by external factors—like work expectations, others’ choices, or cultural and societal pressures—and shift our mindset to embrace God’s perspective of our worth and value beyond what we do.
Self-Reflection or Self-Centeredness?
Within the Christian community, focusing on oneself can be viewed negatively, and the consideration of whether it borders on self-centeredness is a valid one. Self-focus taken to an extreme can indeed be unhelpful, especially when leaning toward self-reliance that ends up in isolation from others, difficulty asking for help, and eventually difficulty tuning into someone else’s needs or feelings.
However, effective self-reflection can help us become aware of our limitations and in doing so recognize our need for help and dependence on God. This approach to self-care can be quite enriching, connecting us to the ultimate source of love, assurance, rest, and strength.
Practicing Self-Care in Christian Counseling in Chicago
As a Christian counselor in Chicago and a dance therapist, I invite clients to slow down and pay attention to their bodies as they share their experiences. Developing mind-body awareness can help you feel more present, less distracted, and more open to sensing your connection with God. By tuning into physical sensations, you can better understand your emotions, clarify your needs and boundaries, and invite God's perspective to bring about meaningful change.
In my practice, I help clients develop self-care routines that involve:
Body-mind relaxation techniques
Time for self-reflection through scripture, journaling, and prayer
Engaging in mindful and enjoyable movement
Creating weekly/monthly schedules that balance work or school, time with family and friends, community, and leisure
The practice of appreciation
Embrace a Holistic Approach to Self-Care with Christian Counseling in Chicago
Self-care isn’t just about treating yourself to a massage or a day off—though those can be nice! True self-care in Christian counseling goes beyond pampering and is about nurturing your whole self: body, mind, and spirit. It's about finding balance, understanding your limits, and reconnecting with God’s view of you.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to lose sight of what we need for our well-being. Self-care helps us to slow down, reflect on our needs, and seek God’s guidance to live a more balanced and purposeful life.
Schedule a free consultation with a Christian Counselor in Chicago
If you find yourself feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your purpose, Christian counseling in Chicago can help you reconnect with your faith, develop healthier boundaries, and create a more balanced approach to self-care. Reach out today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and discover how you can experience God's peace and guidance in your life.
As a Christian Counselor in Chicago, Lisaura specializes in incorporating movement and the mind-body connection to help people heal, improve their relationships, and feel more whole. Lisaura offers individual relationship counseling, dance therapy, and couples workshops to help adults connect with themselves and others deeply.
Spanish-speaking services are available as well.
