Taking care of oneself after a tough experience is essential for recovery, yet it’s often overlooked. Many clients find self-care challenging because they’re unsure what it entails or why it matters for healing. Neglecting self-care can make the aftermath of trauma feel even harder to manage, as it amplifies emotions, strains relationships, and complicates daily life.
The Self-Care Wheel Worksheet is a 9-page resource designed for young clients to understand and practice self-care in an engaging and simple way. Through these activities, they can check how they care for themselves in different areas and think of ways to improve.
Completing this worksheet helps young people handle stress more effectively and understand what they need to feel their best. Incorporating these self-care ideas to their daily or weekly routines can help them form habits that support their emotions and health long-term.
Parents and teachers can play a supportive role by modeling positive self-care habits and encouraging regular use of the wheel. Helping them choose activities they enjoy can make self-care easier to adopt and maintain.
These worksheets pair well with our visually appealing Self-Care Wheel for Kids and Teens handout.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of self-care worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Peckham, M. (2021). Self-care and grounding. Looking at Trauma, 13-20. https://doi.org/10.5325/j.ctv1wmz3qr.8
- Riegel, B., Barbaranelli, C., Stawnychy, M. A., Matus, A., & Hirschman, K. B. (2024). Does self-care improve coping or does coping improve self-care? A structural equation modeling study. Applied Nursing Research, 78, 151810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2024.151810
- Shannon, P. J., Simmelink-McCleary, J., Im, H., Becher, E., & Crook-Lyon, R. E. (2014). Developing self-care practices in a trauma treatment course. Journal of Social Work Education, 50(3), 440-453. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2014.917932
- Truscott, A., Hayes, D., Bardsley, T., Choksi, D., & Edbrooke-Childs, J. (2023). Defining young people’s mental health self-care: A systematic review and Co-development approach. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(11), 3765-3785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02320-7
