Read the article that appeared in the June 2022 edition of Front Porch Magazine:
Nowadays, we often think of self-care as doing something for ourselves that feels comfortable and easy – like lighting an expensive candle, putting on our coziest sweatpants, and settling into bed to watch Netflix. But true self-care isn’t always that simple.
Truly caring for ourselves is not just a having a chill night in – it’s more than that. And dare I say that self-care is even, at times, difficult, uncomfortable, and challenging?
This is the second story of a series in which I delve into what authentic self-care is by having conversations with local mental health professionals listed in Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’s HELPLINE resource.
Recently I spoke with Alison Sullivan, LCSW, one of the local therapists listed in Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’s HELPLINE resource. She is the owner of Alison Sullivan & Associates, an integrative mental health practice located on Lafayette Blvd in Fredericksburg.
When I asked Alison to define self-care, she replied: “Self-care from a mental health perspective is related to actions and activities that cultivate and nurture a harmonic sense of wellbeing – whether that’s physical, emotional, relational, psychological, financial, etc.”
Alison believes that self-care involves both comfort and challenge. She says that self-care involves “actively taking a risk on behalf of what you need.” Not all self-care feels comfortable in the moment. For example, it can be difficult to have a hard conversation with a loved one, but that form of emotional and relational self-care is ultimately nurturing when we lean into that discomfort.
Self-care can take many forms. Mindfulness is a valuable practice that teaches us self-love and acceptance. Alison explains: “Mindfulness allows you to acknowledge what you’re feeling and regulate those feelings so they don’t prevent you from going where you want to go.”
At its core, mindfulness is simple. For people who want to try this practice as part of their self-care routine, Alison suggests starting with this: “Be with yourself in the moment and connect with your breath.” For anyone interested in exploring mindfulness in more depth, Alison created an online course called Mindfulness 101, which you can find on her website, alisonsintegrativehealth.org.
MHAfred maintains an extensive list of local mental health providers that we call the HELPLINE. We keep track of the services offered in the area, insurances accepted, and new client availability. If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred’s programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.
Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.