Caregiver therapy: How do I find it?

This might be part of why my neighbor wants me to see a therapist...

Once your mom is in hospice, there will probably be counseling available to you. Also, after she passes, they provide grief counseling for a period of time. With the hospices I know about, it’s six months.

I would consider a Licensed Social Worker in private counseling practice. Then I would call and ask just that. Your question here takes seconds, and should be answered before any 100s of dollars in investment. Licensed Social Workers with experience are the very best at life transitions work. They aren't going to go all Freudian on you and discuss at what age you were toilet trained. They are going to deal with the issues you are dealing with today. I sure wish you good luck because seeing a bad therapist does more harm than good and seeing a good one can be miraculous in shaking you up and changing your habitual ways of thinking and reacting, and can bring the reality of life right front and center.

Psychology today.com has listings of therapists in anyone’s area. There you can look up issues they deal with—like elderly, aging, etc. I always look for people my age who have had life experiences. The listing also includes their picture and a some information about themselves. Sometimes you have to go to the website to get more detail on what you’re looking for. Also, google ‘therapists for caregivers’.

I am so appreciative of everyone who responded! I'm not sure why but I didn't receive notifications of anyone's comments until yesterday. So, sincere apologies for my delayed thanks!

I joined a wonderful in person caregiver support group that was led by a social worker who had been through caregiving herself. There is nothing like finding someone who has walked in your shoes.

I wish you luck in getting the support that you need.

I found a therapist (actually they found me), through the senior day care center that my Mom attended. The day care center was part of a larger company that included a nursing home which provided counselling for the entire family and especially in the preparation for end of life. My Mom no longer goes to that senior day care, however, they still provide ongoing counselling to me. I am very grateful for their existence.

GB2112: I sought short term therapy after the fact. I was having difficulty readjusting to regular life after having had to live with and care for my late mother, who passed away while I was living with her. The specialist, although not specific to caregiving, knew I was being seen as I had just lost my mother.
Good luck, GB.

Yes, caregivers do need support; it is not unusual for caregivers to end up at some point with " caregiver exhaustion". You do not indicate if 1.you are a family member serving as what is often called the PCG
( primary caregiver) with a family member
or
2. If you are a paid caregiver employed in the work place as a caregiver serving in some professional capacity. ( Nurse, or certified nurse assistant for example).

All of the above are subject to potential " burnout" or " caregiver exhaustion".

If you are a paid professional caregiver in the workplace, you should definitely seek support via your employer resources.

If you are an " unpaid" family member caring for a loved one in the home or even accountable for them in a facility, you may find help beginning with the support that a faith leader/ community of your choice may provide . Or reach out to a facility or hospital chaplain for support. You may also reach out to a social services professional such as a licensed social worker for the support you need. These are some beginning steps to take.
You should also be seeing your own PCP ( Primary Care Physician) for assessment of your own physical and emotional health. Your PCP may also be able to refer you to other caregiver support systems.
You do not mention what the caregiving situation is ( caring for one or more family in home, or responsibility for one or more placed in a facility. Be sure that you are accessing all potential support for the caregiving needs to help you either in the home or if loved ones are in facility. Sometimes having the patient 's " level of care needs" further assessed may offer additional support suggestions for the patient and therefore will help you. A lot depends on your specific needs. Either way these are some steps you can begin with to get the support you and all " caregivers" need and deserve.

Hi
Another good possibility for a therapist would be a Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner who specializes in mental health.

Contact the Helpline at Alz.org

They will be able to send you a list of support groups in your area. They are an amazing resource and we're a huge help for me.

There are two great sites that I used to find a therapist specializing in caregiving. Psychology Today has a ‘find a therapist’ feature: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists. Just plug in your needs (insurance, male/female, caregiving, etc…) and a list will pop up. If cost is an issue, there is another really great site, Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/. This is a group of therapists offering care on a sliding fee scale. Best of luck to you!

I found great help with my Support Group.
there are many that meet in person as well as on line (kinda like this one)
Finding a good Support Group is sort of like a good pair of shoes. You have to try it first and see how it feels. If you don't "click" after the first few meetings look for another.
Try your local Senior Center or Senior Services they have many clients and families of clients that they deal with daily. They might know of Therapists that specifically know what Caregiving is like. May Senior Centers also have Social Workers that might point you in the right direction if you are looking for 1 on 1 therapy rather than a Support Group.

Find a nearby chapter of Daughterhood.org. on Facebook.

If you Google Therapists through Psychology Today, in your state and area, and put elder care or caregiving or aging in the search bar , you can find therapists who have specific education, training and interest in this area. You can read their bios, see if they provide in person and/ or teleheath service, and assess what insurance they accept and/or fee.

Good Morning,

Dr. Natali offers YouTube videos and also on Careblazers.com

Basically she is a psychologist (geriatrician) who worked in the hospital sector and was not impressed with the protocol for the small amount of time that was spent with the patient and/or family.

I alternate, scan, between this forum and the "short" videos that Dr. Natali provides keeping us updated. At the present moment she is offering a free "caregiving" online video, you can go online and sign up and watch--it is time-sensitive I think 4 days.

Occupational Therapist Teepa Snow wrote a Caregiver's Guide with the stages of all kinds of Dementia. She, too, offers YouTube videos. She is fabulous.

Most of us don't have the time to Zoom in and participate at a designated time but with the technology you can find what you need at your fingertips. Now if you are seeking "in-person" support oftentimes Assisted Livings offer Caregivers Support groups. Usually they are sponsored by an Elder Attorney. Again, with the Post-Pandemic, Co-vid still lingering and the regular flu season, me personally, I will stay away because I don't want to get sick and make mother ill.

If all else fails, join a local Y, throw your suit on and get some exercise. You can build a network of support.

Happy New Year!

Ireland

I would access online the numbers of any Licensed Social Workers in private practice in your area, call the office and ask. Many of them do private counseling and have elder care experience or can refer you to places that do. Call your local counsel on aging as well. I sure wish you luck.

When I was at my wits end while caring for my late husband, I "Googled" local caregiver support groups in my area, and was fortunate to find one, that I started attending 4 1/2 years ago now in person and when Covid hit, they went on Zoom. Thankfully we're back in person with still the Zoom option if someone can't make it in person.
And although my husband has been dead for well over 2 years now, because this group was such a life saver for me, I continue to go to now be of help to others.
NO ONE can understand what a caregiver goes through better than another caregiver, and while there's a place and a time for a therapist or a counselor, unless they themselves have been a caregiver they can only help but so much.
I wish you the best in finding a local caregivers support.

Try to find a Licensed Social Worker in private practice as a therapist. They often are best at this life transitions work and they often have the best ideas for resources. And yes, unless your own doc has someone they know in this work, you are basically down to google. Sure do wish you the best. Don't think that the first one, if not right for you, is the one you must stick with.

My mom attends a weekly respite program at our Senior Center & they offer a free caregiver support group. If there's a local senior center nearby you could check if they offer CG groups

If you go to the Psychology Today website, they maintain a list of therapists. You can see their area of specialty .

You can contact your nearest teaching hospital and talk to someone in their geriatric department. They almost certainly have a social worker who specializes.

You can call local hospices. Their social worker may do private practice or may be able to refer you to folks who do.

Best of luck!

Bumping up. I hope you get some good suggestions, GB.