To understand one’s world, one must sometimes turn away from it! To serve better, one must briefly hold it at a distance. Where can the necessary solitude be found, the long breathing space in which mind gathers its strength and takes stock of its courage.
Research shows that child welfare workers and professionals in social services experience a higher level of stress and vicarious trauma than most other professions. Not only does this impact workers’ quality of life, but it compromises their ability to fully support the children and families in their care.
If you’re struggling, feeling down, overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck, I want to give you hope that you CAN struggle less. You CAN use powerful, science-backed skills to live and work with more energy, joy, and sense of purpose. You CAN create a more supportive relationship with yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions, which will strengthen your resiliency and help you thrive.
Resilience is not about eliminating anxiety, fear, or uncertainty inherent in the work we do. Cultivating resilience allows us to face these and other stressful experiences with greater confidence, so we have the resources to bounce back. In posts that you can access below, I will be sharing articles, tools, and resources for building habits of mind and action—often in small but meaningful ways—that foster resilience.
Adopting resilience practices requires a change of attitude and habit. The promise is that by doing so, we may experience the power of simple approaches that, when practiced mindfully and full of intention, are self-renewing.
Be well. Stay well.
Breathing Space October 2025 by Dan Comer 7 Ways to Start Setting Work Boundaries Child welfare is important work, and it can be overwhelming. Emergencies, late-night calls, the immense amount of paperwork, and the emotional weight of families’ struggles can quickly blur the line between work
Breathing Space September 2025 by Dan Comer Resilience doesn’t have to be a heavy lift I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, both by the news and by a bit of life stuff. I usually react by withdrawing at times like this. But I continue to
Breathing Space August 2025 by Dan Comer Improving organizational culture is on ALL of us! In my coaching work I often hear “I love this work, but wow…the pace, the stress, the exhaustion. I don’t know how long I can do this?” Feel familiar? The truth
Breathing Space July 2025 by Dan Comer Take your PTO! Honestly, it never crossed my mind that I would ever have to suggest that someone use their paid time off. Until…I found myself working in a county and slowly learned that there was a culture of
Breathing Space June 2025 by Dan Comer Take a nature break—your mind and body will thank you! We often carry heavy workloads and emotional stress in our work. With so much time spent in front of screens, in high-stakes conversations, and juggling endless to-dos, it’s easy
Breathing Space May 2025 by Dan Comer Have That Difficult Conversation! How many conversations have you rehearsed but never had? Difficult conversations feel like walking on a tightrope—a balancing act most people try to avoid. The cost of avoidance usually far exceeds the risk of addressing