When parents are stressed out about their child's behaviors and issues, one of the most important things I emphasize is self care.
This means making the time to take a walk and exercise, making sure to have some alone (and/or couples time), eating right, getting enough sleep, or calling a friend for support. They're commonsense things that often get thrown out when a family is in crisis or feeling stressed.
Self care is also crucial for all therapists, especially those working with young children. This work can be highly challenging and triggering, such as when a child is screaming, tantrumming, throwing things, and kicking or hitting you. It can bring up a wave of feelings about your own early childhood challenges.
One of the best ways I've found to take care of myself is to meditate every morning. This means sitting quietly, focusing on my breath, and letting thoughts come and go without focusing on them. It's like building a protective cushion around myself for the rest of the day.
There are a lot of different styles of meditation out there, but simply sitting quietly with your eyes closed can often be helpful enough. Research shows that meditation aids in the formation of nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels to open up and lowers your blood pressure.
To Lower Blood Pressure, Open Up and Say 'Om': http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93796200
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