Self-care and self-reflective practices are crucial to the field of Child and Youth Care. You have to know who you are inside and out, and take care of yourself, before you can help a child/youth discover who they are and take care of themselves as well.
“The self” in the Child and Youth Care practice has four sub-domains that are helpful to break down exactly what the self requires. The four sub-domains are as follows: reflective practice, boundaries, self-care, and use of the self in interventions (Stuart, 2009).
Reflective practice means that on a daily basis, you are taking your experiences and reflecting on them to become a better professional, and a better influence for the children/youth (Stuart, 2009).
Boundaries involve the use of self-realization that the relationships you create in the field will not mirror the relationships in your personal life, and a line of respect is drawn both for you, and for the families/children/youth you work with (Stuart, 2009).
Self-care is about identifying your needs as an individual and taking the responsibility to address them and make sure your entire being is healthy, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Stuart, 2009).
The use of self in interventions is about taking all of the other sub-domains, your values, your experiences, and your honest, true self to act accordingly, and quickly to the children/youth’s needs (Stuart, 2009).
References
Stuart, C. (2009). Foundations of Child and Youth Care: Second Edition. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Competency of Boundaries Proven:
In the professional world, boundaries are important to protect both the working professional and the client, employee, or student.
I was raised in a home that demanded respect in all forms of communication and relationships. I have always been very professional with my past employers and teachers, especially through email, and I have always made sure that my ability to set healthy professional boundaries shows itself through the respect and professionalism that I present myself with.
Below is an email exchange (used with permission) between a past employer and myself, where I disclose information about me being accepted into college. I do so in a very professional manner and I do not disclose access information.
