The phrase “self-care” gets thrown around a lot these days. But what does this really mean? And what can you do to take the impact of your work beyond the consulting room?
In this interview with Networker Assistant Editor Chris Lyford, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine’s Sabrina N’Diaye explains, and shares a moving story of how her work as a “peacebuilder” brought her into contact with someone whose life couldn’t have been more different from her own.
As N’Diaye notes, self-care is in many ways a spiritual practice that connects us with the people who came before us. “This is what self-care is all about,” she says, “to really know yourself in a deep, deep way and to see yourself as a unique individual.”
What’s more, N’Diaye adds that the therapist’s craft can help people connect in a deep, meaningful way that raises awareness of our similarities, helps us relate to one another, and ultimately begin to heal the rifts that arise from racism, sexism, and homophobia. “Peacebuilding,” she says, “is about allowing relationships to shift, veils to lift, and people to see each other through new eyes.”
Sabrina N'Diaye
Sabrina N’Diaye, PhD, LCSW-C, is an integrative psychotherapist, storyteller, and peacebuilder, based in Baltimore, MD. Her first book is Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons from a Harlem River Swan.
Chris Lyford
Chris Lyford is the Senior Editor at Psychotherapy Networker. Previously, he was assistant director and editor of the The Atlantic Post, where he wrote and edited news pieces on the Middle East and Africa. He also formerly worked at The Washington Post, where he wrote local feature pieces for the Metro, Sports, and Style sections. Contact: clyford@psychnetworker.org.
