Towards a Society that Supports Those Who Support Others: Launching the Self-Supervise Practice Program, Recruiting Participants and Partner Organizations

The NPO Self-Counseling Promotion Association (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative Director Fumiko Morishima) will launch a social implementation project for the "Self-Supervise Model" in fiscal year 2026, targeting carers (those in a position to support others) in fields such as medical care, nursing care, welfare, education, and family caregivers. In addition, we are now recruiting participants for the practice program and partner organizations.

In Japan, many people, including medical professionals, care workers, welfare workers, and educators, are routinely involved in caring for and supporting others. The WHO also recognizes family members and informal caregivers, who provide care free of charge to family and friends, as crucial to supporting healthcare systems. However, the physical and mental burden and isolation experienced by those providing support are not sufficiently visible, and the lack of a "system to support those who support others" has become a social issue.

In particular, individuals who are deeply empathetic towards others and wish to "help even a little" or "provide better support" are more prone to emotional entanglement and feelings of helplessness. The desire to "be a good supporter/carer" can turn into pressure to "must continue to provide good support," leading to excessive self-evaluation or anxiety, which in turn becomes a major factor in mental and physical exhaustion, burnout, and isolation.

A survey by the Japan Caregivers Association also highlights the importance of the perspective that "support for caregivers leads to better care," indicating a need to create systems that support those who provide support themselves.

Based on the theory and methods of Self-Counseling®, created by the late Mr. Yasuma Watanabe, our association has been engaged in promotion and human resource development in the fields of medicine, education, and business. In recent years, through approximately five years of research, development, and trials, including individual lessons and site interviews for supporters in high-stress environments such as palliative care and grief care, we have established the Self-Supervise Model as "a theory and method for supporters to continue providing support while supporting themselves."

This program utilizes five practical texts systematized during the research and development process, offering experiential learning through repeated writing and reflection, rather than mere knowledge acquisition.

●1: Drawing Boundaries (Respecting Dignity Lines) This will enable you to interact with care recipients with greater dignity.

●2: Understanding the "Mechanisms of the Mind" This will allow for deeper emotional connection and empathy.

●3: Freedom from Value Judgments This will enable flexible responses to any person or situation.

●4: Practicing Acceptance This will enable you to use language that values the other person's story.

●5: Self-Acceptance This will enable you to accept yourself and others, aiming for relationships where you can grow together.

In fiscal year 2026, we will first implement this program in the medical, nursing care, and welfare sectors, primarily for palliative care professionals. Through participant salons and follow-up surveys, we will verify the effectiveness of the Self-Supervise Model in practical settings and refine the model for further dissemination.

We are also recruiting participants and partner organizations who agree with the purpose of this project and are willing to collaborate in practice and verification. If you are interested, please contact us, including medical institutions, nursing care facilities, welfare organizations, support groups, and family caregiver associations.

【Recruitment of Participants and Partner Organizations】 Our association is recruiting participants and partner organizations for the fiscal year 2026 program.

・Individuals interested in improving supporter self-care and resilience.

・Organizations willing to cooperate in practical implementation and verification at their sites.

・Stakeholders interested in creating a system to "support those who support others."

We look forward to hearing from you.

First, we will hold an online information session (free of charge) in August regarding the Self-Supervise Model and the planned program for this project.

Those who apply will receive information about the session and a later archive distribution.

Please apply here: https://forms.gle/KPev4Y2Btbjcv2mU7

Towards a Society that Supports Those Who Support Others Based on the belief that "when carers are supported, the quality of care and society are enriched," we aim to realize a society where supporters and carers can continue to support others while supporting themselves, where supporting others and valuing oneself can coexist, and a society where we can live together.

Moving forward, based on the knowledge gained from this project, we will expand into diverse care domains such as medical care, nursing care, welfare, education, bereaved family support, and family caregivers, and build a sustainable cycle of learning and mutual support to "support those who support others."

【Contact Regarding This Matter】 NPO Self-Counseling Promotion Association

Contact Persons: Self-Supervise Model Project, Hisae Saito / Mari Sakurai / Midori Yoshida (Tomoko Izumi)

Address: 4-23-15 Takaishi, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 215-0003

E-mail: [email protected] TEL: 044-955-3226 Official Website: https://www.self-c.jp/