Mental Health Self-Care Checklist
Learn about implementing a Mental Health Self-Care Checklist into your counseling practice to ensure your clients are working on themselves at home as well.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What is a Mental Health Self-Care Checklist?
This printable self-care checklist can be used to assess the client's current self-care routine. The checklist can be divided into parts for the relevant area of their life. You may find that the individual is more active in some areas compared to others when it comes to self-care. This is something that can be assessed during the completion of this checklist. A Self-Care Checklist can also work to identify issues that the client would like to spend more time on or things that hadn't occurred to them before completing this checklist.
Download our Mental Health Self-Care Checklist
Access our free Mental Health Self-Care Checklist PDF here
How does it work?
The printable Self-Care Checklist works like any other checklist you encounter. Here are some steps that we have created to make the process smoother:
Step one: Obtain the Daily Self-Care Checklist
You can download the Self-Care Checklist PDF for free access on the Carepatron website.
Step two: Walk your client through the checklist
The client must know exactly what they are asked to do regarding this checklist. You can explain how they should fill out the checklist and what they should consider when completing the form.
Step three: Ask your client to fill out the checklist
How you do this step is up to you. Maybe you'd like the client to fill out the form in session so you can speak about what they have come up with. Or, maybe you would prefer they bring the completed sheet from home for your next session.
Step four: Discuss
It's up to you how to discuss the relevant information the client has provided. Maybe they engage largely in self-care that is possibly negative or harming others. Maybe they don't engage in enough. However the client's choice to engage with this checklist is a great starting ground for further improvements and changes to their lifestyle and psychological health.
Mental Health Self-Care Checklist example (sample)
We have created a filled-in sample of the Self-Care Checklist to demonstrate how your client could complete the checklist:
Download our free Mental Health Self-Care Checklist PDF
When would you use this checklist?
There are many reasons that a Self-Care Checklist may come in handy for your sessions.
Understanding where your client is at
When discussing the different forms of self-care, it's important to understand what your client already does or considers self-care to encompass for them. They may see self-care as reading or running. No matter their form of self-care, it's important to get that baseline of understanding to move forward.
Implementing new self care ideas and routines
After the initial assessment of self-care and what your client does, you can create new plans for a self-care-inclusive routine. You may find that your client doesn't particularly see exercise as self-care, and it may be good to understand why they believe this so you can make better-informed decisions about what to suggest if they are stuck.
As a crisis intervention
A Self-Care Checklist can be useful when an individual finds themselves in crisis. When a crisis occurs, it's good to have certain steps in place so the individual can recover safely. This could be in the form of a Self-Care Checklist. During a crisis, they can recognize the things that make them feel good, like journaling or skin care routines. These identified activities can help build a safe intervention for the individual to fall back on when there may be nothing else for them.
What do the results mean?
The great thing about these checklists is that their meaning is completely up for interpretation! Whether you think the client could use some encouragement to find more positive ways to engage in a self care activity, or you might suggest moving some areas of self care around to accommodate for some more areas of love - the results from this Self-Care Checklist will help you and your client decide what the results mean.
Why use Carepatron as your Mental Health Self-Care App?
There are various reasons to use Carepatron as your Self-Care App.
As your ultimate self care checklist, Carepatron can cater to the specific needs of therapists and general practitioners who want to use a self-care checklist. Clients can start practicing self care along with other important measures in their life. You will have access to not only a Self-Care Checklist, but other checklists that you can use at your discretion.
Carepatron is designed to be your Self-Care Checklist Software and software that includes all your healthcare needs. You can look forward to Carepatron's ability to store your patient notes securely and easily accessible for quick access. When your client completes their Self-Care Checklist you can store it away for later reference if you need.
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References
Levitt, S. (2019, April 25). A Mental Health Self-care Checklist for the Modern Human. Pathways. https://www.pathwayscounselingsvcs.com/mental-health-self-care-checklist/
What to include in a daily self-care checklist | Adobe Acrobat. (n.d.). Www.adobe.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/create-a-self-care-checklist.html#:~:text=By%20writing%20a%20list%2C%20you
Commonly asked questions
To simplify the process of creating a Mental Health Self-Care Checklist, we at Carepatron have created an easily downloadable PDF checklist you can use to start your journey on self-care.
These checklists can be used at any time. They are a versatile tool for whether you’re looking to identify or change your routine to accommodate new self-care practices.
They can be used in therapy sessions or in the comfort of the client’s home.
Anyone who is looking to incorporate self-care into their routine!
