Increasing Helping Professionals’ Self-Awareness and Self-Confidence by Integrating the E.S.P.M. Model for Self-Care

In this course, Dr. Jason Branch, Ph.D., observes the many practices which mental health helpers do not do daily, but which – if they did them – would result in increased self-awareness. Dr. Branch explains the Belief Model, which shows how beliefs generate behaviours, which – when repeated – become habits, resulting in a given lifestyle. He challenges mental health professionals to change some of the chief factors which keep them from achieving high-level mental health and moving past their own traumas. Dr. Branch explains his E.S.P.M. Model as a self-care tool with four components, each of which must be practiced daily in order to establish and maintain high-level self-care and avoid becoming “an empty cup” (from which nothing can be poured). Dr. Branch also offers an extensive list of tips for protecting one’s peace.