Eudaemonia Counseling & Consulting

On Tuesdays, I have a little less than 2 hours between work and jetting off to my doctoral classes for 3+ hours. I usually end up doing some homework or some household chores. Today, my soul just needed some trees and sun. I definitely made the right choice. ❤️☀️ #selfcare #selfcompassion #collectivecare #wellnessmatters #doctoralstudent

Nearly every time I have gone to a past boss to discuss my workload, boundaries at work, and feelings of burnout, I have heard things like this: “Well, did you eat a high-protein breakfast this morning?” “We are doing yoga in the lobby tomorrow morning - that will help.” “I don’t want to know how late you have been working.” “Oh, we only work half days here - 7 AM to 7 PM.” “Are you focusing on your big rocks?” Seriously.  Every single one of these things is an actual response I have received when advocating to a supervisor for something to change to make my role more sustainable and to keep me from burning out. The non-profit and education world is infamous for talking about the importance of caring for ourselves yet providing little to no support to make actual changes that make our jobs more sustainable.  Shouldn’t our field be working to retain talent rather than watching helpers burn out and leave the field in droves?  I’ve realized that supervisors' view of self-care is too often limited - exercise, a hot bath, or a glass of wine after a hard day.  Those things are great but aren’t the answers employees often seek.  I know I can do those things, but they are putting a bandage on the actual problem.  I shouldn’t have to work in a field that requires me to find internal solutions for external problems.     We can’t self-care our way out of broken systems.  I have found that in my training as a helper, we haven’t been facilitating meaningful discussions about collective care.  How do we support each other to build a profession that allows us to make a strong impact on the communities we serve while also making sure our needs are being met?  Why can’t we zoom out and think about this from a systems level? For years, I have dreamed of building workshops for helpers to address these questions and more.  Yesterday, Jen Vallieres and I facilitated one of our Eudaemonia Counseling & Consulting workshops for 1st-year students at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education titled “Helping Helpers Flourish.” In our 3 part workshop, participants begin by focusing on their unique, individual self-care story before sharing a self-care plan for others to hold them accountable.  We then shift to talk about collective care and how our field can change policies, practices, and mindsets to ensure that employees can thrive rather than burn out. We played some pretty dope music along the way too. 😉 Yesterday, I felt alive.  I know that I was walking in my purpose, providing a space to future counselors that was rarely (if ever) provided for me. Eudaemonia Counseling & Consulting's work in this space will continue, and we are excited to partner with organizations where employees are feeling tired, overwhelmed, and burned out.  If that sounds like you or your organization, reach out.  We would love to support you in building a community of collective care for all. ❤️ #collectivecare #selfcare #helpers

Did 2023 suck? 2023 was a really hard year.  I found myself thinking this throughout December as 2024 approached.  I couldn’t wait for midnight on the 31st to leave 2023 behind.  But as Christmas came and went, I began to reflect more on the year.  I found that I could make a choice.  I could carry the negative sentiments associated with 2023 with me and write the year off as a whole, or I could pause and think about the good things that happened. I needed to rewrite the narrative I was reciting in my head every day. On a ride back to Philadelphia from a visit with my grandparents, I reviewed the year in my head but only focused on the good things. Here are a few of my highlights from 2023: - Celebrated the ten-year anniversary of coming out of the closet - Visited Europe 3 times (Ireland, France, Portugal, Switzerland) - Celebrated 7 years of marriage and 10 years together with my husband - Started Eudaemonia Counseling & Consulting with my partner in crime, Jen Vallieres - Spent a ton of quality time with my mom - Grew out my hair like I’ve always wanted.  And then cut it all off. - I saw 4 Broadway shows and Ed Sheeran in concert with my siblings and our spouses - I started my doctoral program and ended my first semester with a 4.0 GPA - Fulfilled a childhood dream of buying a piano (and learned to play 3 full songs) - Spent so much quality time with our nephews and godchildren (time with them makes everything better) The list goes on, and I have spent a few minutes each day reading it.  It has completely changed my mood and allowed me to look back on 2023 with immense gratitude.  Two of my favorite musical artists have said it best: “Two things can both be true at the same time.”  - Ben Abraham “Is there a word for the way I’m feeling tonight?  Happy and sad at the same time.” - Kacey Musgraves This is what I’ve learned in 2023.  Amid pain and challenge, there is beauty.  Gratitude can exist alongside sadness.  We can feel two things at the same time. My closest friends and I choose a word for the upcoming year rather than a resolution every year.  This year, my word is present.  That’s it.  I just want to be present in my life.  Present with my family.  Present in the joy of each day. Wishing everyone a happy new year, and hoping that you are able to reflect on the year and the good things that happened, no matter how small they may seem. #2024vision #happynewyear #wellbeingmatters #wellness #resolutions