Caring for the Caregiver

Often, family members are the primary caregivers for ill and/or aging relatives. Likewise, many professionals dedicate a large portion of their time to caring for their patients and clients. Although many would prefer to have it no other way, the stress involved in such an unselfish, often long-term commitment can become staggering. Some common difficulties experienced by caregivers are:

	Feeling overwhelmed
	Depression
	Physical and emotional exhaustion
	Increased frequency of illnesses
	Resentment

Caring for oneself is an essential element in one’s ability to provide continued care for someone else. All of the above issues can be addressed in therapy. Below are some additional benefits of counseling for caregivers:

	Finding and increasing the strength to continue on
	Learning new ways to care for oneself
	Understanding and working through negative feelings toward caregiving and the person receiving care
	Allowing oneself to ask for and accept help and support

I work successfully with individuals in caregiver roles and have found the therapeutic relationships I develop with my clients to be an integral part of caring for the caregiver. My medical background compliments my counseling experiences nicely, allowing for a genuine understanding of the caregiver’s perspective.