ABSTRACT
Beyond ethical and competent practice, counselors are charged with fostering personal development. Personal development includes attention to self awareness, self care, and personal growth. However, many counselors fi nd that maintaining a positive balance between personal development and professional standards can be challenging. Sadly, this seems to be grounded in the fact that many counselors tend to invest much more time and energy in taking care of others than in taking care of self. The cost of this lack of self care has many potential implications for counselors including burnout and professional impairment. A lack of counselor wellness can also have a direct impact on the quality of services that clients receive. As a result, counselors are challenged to learn the skills necessary to practice as a counselor, as well as making personal self care a priority.
