Therapist, Educator, Self-Care Advocate
My biography
Ayana Shepherd obtained her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University in English with a Minor in Child and Family Development. As she began working with children in undergrad, she recognized that she could be an educator and support youth in other ways outside of a classroom setting. She worked for the school district and later landed employment at a residential facility for at-risk youth. It was there that a budding interest in social work began. After working and volunteering within multiple facets and with varying populations (at-risk youth, substance abuse, persons with developmental disabilities, homeless support services etc.) of the social work profession she went back to school to obtain her Masters in Social Work. Since obtaining her MSW, she has been providing group therapy to youth in a residential setting and continues to coordinate support services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
With over 20 years of experience in social services and a life committed to helping others she recognizes the importance of taking care of yourself and being intentional in this daily task. In order to maintain longevity and health in a profession that is equally as rewarding as it is demanding, she understands that self-care is a necessity.
Ayana Shepherd is the Co-Founder of B2B Support Services (Blessed to Be A Blessing) which is a nonprofit organization that provides support resources to individuals in the inner city of Los Angeles County such as Compton, Watts and South Central Los Angeles. In all facets of her work she stresses the importance of self-care in order to promote balance, self-love, confidence and overall well-being.
Ayana’s mantra is “All things work together for good” – Romans 8:28.
Mission
Self-Care Advocacy encourages self-love by providing education and the promotion of engaging in intentional, routine self-care practices that improve the mental health and overall well-being of individuals seeking to better manage their lives and the people and things that they are committed to.
Vision
To help individuals incorporate and understand the importance of self-care and how it relates to mental health in order to improve the lives of individuals which will in turn promote healthier relationships, families and communities.
What is Self-Care?
This sounds like a simple answer, but Self-Care Advocacy encourages you to think beyond your scheduled massages and vacations. This is not to say that self-care is not those things, but Self-Care Advocacy wants you to engage in self-care more frequently and with less expense. We want you to know that self-care is accessible and necessary and in order to debunk the perception of self-care, we must discuss the basics. With that said, self-care is the daily acts and intentional routine practices that one engages in to make themselves a priority and contributes to an individual’s overall health and happiness.
What may happen when you do not engage in self-care?
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Burn-Out
- Increase Stress Levels
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Illnesses
Self-Care Advocacy's Why?
As a social worker, I found myself over-extending myself and making sure that everyone else was okay. In the midst of tending to my clients, family and friends, I found myself exhausted, not feeling well and quite honestly, needing the help that I was giving to everyone else and saying to myself, “Why aren’t you taking your own advice?” Through my personal experiences and that of the people I support daily I am frequently reminded that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. Today, I still must remind myself. It seems like an easy feat but as life happens and we are tackling our to-do list, it is easy to neglect our personal needs and not make self-care a habit. For some people, a routine set of activities are already in place. For others, you may be scheduling massages here and there and an annual vacation. And then, there may be a group of people that are just getting started; And that is ok too. Self-Care Advocacy encourages you to start where you are, identify what works for you. This is your journey; it is all about you… and we are in this together. For daily tips, encouragement and to stay up to date with how Self-Care Advocacy can support you along this life-long journey, periodically check back here and follow us on our social media platform @selfcareadvocacy.
