Redefining Self-Care: What It Really Looks Like for Therapists Today
Let’s be real: therapists are some of the most burnout-prone professionals out there. We’re the ones telling our clients to rest, hydrate, set boundaries—and then we turn around and forget to do any of it ourselves. Sound familiar?
In this Not Boring CEs conversation, I sat down with Alexis Overstreet, a clinician, coach, and self-care wizard, to talk about what real self-care looks like in today’s chaotic world. Spoiler alert: it’s not all bubble baths and mani-pedis (though those can totally count).
If you’re searching for meaningful, sustainable ways to take care of yourself—especially as a therapist—this is your guide. And yes, we’re making it SEO-friendly with all the CEs for therapists and continuing education for counselors vibes you love.
Why Self-Care Feels So Hard for Therapists
Alexis nailed it: we’ve been sold a version of self-care that’s fluffy, commercialized, and out of touch with our lived realities. We’re constantly absorbing distressing content, navigating a tech-saturated environment, and battling that ever-familiar feeling of “not doing enough.”
Key reasons we struggle:
- Cultural pressure to be informed (even if it’s harming us)
- Constant exposure to trauma via 5G, news, and social media
- Empathy overload and nervous system burnout
- Internalized shame for “not practicing what we preach”
Modern Problems Require Modern Self-Care
Self-care in 1920 didn’t look like self-care today. We’re living in an era of constant stimuli, digital noise, and environmental stressors that our nervous systems were not designed to handle. According to Alexis, we need to adapt.
Here’s what modern self-care needs to address:
- Cellular impact of EMFs from tech and screens
- Overexposure to global trauma and sensationalized content
- Environmental stressors like pollution, diet, and disconnected living
- Unrealistic self-care expectations sold to us through capitalism
The 6 Essential Categories of Self-Care
1. Body-Based Self-Care
This is the foundation. It’s not about sculpting abs—it’s about tuning into what your body is telling you.
Simple practices include:
- Deep belly breathing (diaphragmatic is best)
- Relaxing areas of tension (hello, clenched butt cheeks)
- Staying hydrated (your cells will thank you)
- TRE (Trauma Release Exercises) or body-based modalities like the MELT Method
“Take a breath. Notice your body. That’s the start of real self-care.” – Alexis Overstreet
2. Leisure & Enjoyment
When’s the last time you did something just for fun?
This category includes anything that brings you joy:
- Improv class (Allison’s fave)
- Cookie decorating (even with a bunch of wild kids)
- Dancing, knitting, traveling, playing music
- Watching comedy, sunbathing, goofing off
If you can’t remember what fun feels like, think back to what you loved in high school. Start there.
3. Beauty & Hygiene
Yes, this counts. Alexis debunks the idea that these are “just maintenance.” If it restores you, it’s self-care.
- Getting your nails done
- Applying your favorite face oil
- Flossing (seriously, it’s a thing)
- Showers, hair rituals, skincare routines
- Anything that makes you feel put together and cared for
4. Medical Self-Care
Preventative care isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential.
- Regular check-ups, labs, and screenings
- Managing chronic conditions
- Advocating for yourself in a flawed healthcare system
- Understanding what your body needs to stay well
Allison shared how choosing MRIs over vacations became a radical act of self-love—and a powerful model for her daughters.
5. Meditative & Spiritual Practices
This is about mindset, awareness, and connection to something bigger.
Examples:
- Meditation, prayer, journaling, or affirmations
- Visualizations and manifestations
- Checking in with your thoughts: Are they building you up or tearing you down?
Your self-talk shapes your reality. Let it be kind, curious, and rooted in your worth.
6. Intentionality & Resistance
The way Alexis frames it: self-care is resistance.
It’s choosing what restores you—not what sells. It’s saying no to perfection and yes to showing up as you are, doing what you can. It’s work. And it’s worth it.
What Self-Care Looks Like in Real Life
You don’t have to do all six categories every day. This isn’t another checklist designed to make you feel inadequate. Instead, think of it as a buffet: what’s nourishing today?
Start by:
- Validating what you’re already doing
- Choosing just one area to explore more deeply
- Reframing self-care as something you deserve—not something you have to earn
“What would your nervous system say to you if it could talk? Would it be cussing you out, or whispering, ‘You’re doing great, babe’?”
Final Thoughts
We don’t need another pastel Instagram quote telling us to “just relax.” We need real tools, compassionate self-reflection, and permission to rest, cry, rage, laugh, and heal.
Whether you’re earning CEs for therapists or just trying to make it through the week, redefining self-care in a modern world is one of the most radical, loving things you can do for yourself—and your clients.
Let’s stop waiting for burnout to force us into self-care. Let’s make it how we live.
Want more like this?
Check out our full CE course with Alexis Overstreet on body-based and realistic self-care. Because continuing education for counselors should make your life better—not just check a box.
🧠 Ready to earn CEs that don’t bore you to tears?
👉 Visit Not Boring CEs
