Episode 91 | Engaging Holistically in Self Care with Chris McDonald, LPC, RYT

<p dir="ltr">Welcome to another episode of the Soul Care for Therapists Podcast! In this episode, Dawn Gabriel and her guest Chris McDonald have an insightful conversation on holistic self-care. Chris is a therapist, yogi, podcaster, meditation teacher, and author. Chris shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting her passion for holistic care and helping therapists incorporate holistic practices into their work. They discuss their shared experiences as podcasters and the importance of practicing what they preach.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Personal and Professional Journey</h2> <p dir="ltr">Chris McDonald is a therapist, yogi, podcaster, meditation teacher, and author. She shares her experience of juggling various roles in her life, acknowledging the challenges that come with it. Despite the occasional chaos, Chris finds fulfillment in her work. She runs a small group practice and hosts the Holistic Counseling Podcast, which has been nurturing for two years. Her podcast aims to grow its audience and provide more offerings for therapists. Chris particularly enjoys helping therapists with self-care and teaching them holistic practices to use with their clients.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Passion for Yoga and Meditation</h2> <p dir="ltr">Chris's journey into yoga and meditation started gradually. As a school counselor, she initially learned about breathwork during a teacher retreat. She noticed the positive impact it had on her students, allowing them to calm themselves. However, Chris realized that breathwork alone wasn't always sufficient. She discovered the power of combining breathwork with movement, which deepened the healing experience. Alongside this, Chris began exploring meditation by joining a local Buddhist group. Through consistent practice, she learned valuable lessons in maintaining daily practice and incorporated these practices into her personal lifestyle and therapeutic work.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Teaching and Practicing Self-Care</h2> <p dir="ltr">Dawn and Chris discuss the common tendency among therapis