
Developing one’s sense of self is a lifelong journey. It exists deeply within one’s inner most being. A sense of self has been written about over the centuries and in many ways. Taken up spiritually, the self is equated with the soul. Philosophically, a sense of self is a metaphysical idea existing in one’s awareness in the mind. This metaphysical idea of the self allows you to reflect and think about yourself from the outside in. In current times, the physical self is a subject of much thought and at times lively debate. The corporeal embodiment of the self is thought to construct one’s sense of self. The simple recipe of caring for body, mind, and spirit underlies clinical social work. When one’s sense of self is unsettled, disturbed, troubled, or questioned, it is important to slow down and turn inward. Engaging children clinically during periods of emotional agitation likely involves work that supports a nascent sense of self independent from their primary caregivers. Learning to live in a world as responsible persons is developmental. Clinical social work helps when the core sense of self is obscured by difficult situations beyond one’s control. A healthy sense of self balances demands to take care of others with the need to take care of oneself.