Family Caregiver Stress Marriage & Couples Counselling

Family Caregiver Stress

Family caregiver stress is not a sign that you don't love the person you are looking after. In fact, even professionally trained caregivers who are hired to take care of someone can become tired and experience the symptoms of stress that a family caregiver might experience. Being responsible for someone physical and psychological wellbeing places tremendous strain on a person, particularly if it's a loved one.

Whether you are taking care of a spouse or a parent after surgery for a few weeks, or raising a child with emotional or physical disabilities, the situation presents a set of unique and difficult circumstances. It's only natural to feel overwhelmed and experience embarrassment, shame, sadness, grief, guilt, disappointment, fear, anger, anxiety and depression.

The major factor that contributes to family caregiver stress is the fact that taking care of someone else can isolate you from other people. The patient usually requires ongoing, extensive care. Many people, especially those who took care of themselves before becoming incapacitated, tend to become difficult and moody as the result of losing their independence. Afterwards, they tend to be wracked by guilt.

The caretaker, in turn, has to cope not only with his or her emotions, but also with that of the patient. While caretakers usually enjoy their work, and love taking care of people, particularly loved ones, it can be exhausting and emotionally draining. Also, there is usually very little time left for self-care.

Psychotherapy can help to address family caregiver stress, particularly when the carer feels that he or she lacks support, or has become anxious, overwhelmed, isolated or depressed.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers family therapies to address your family caregiver stress  issues, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Marriage & Couples Counselling, Shame Counselling & Therapy, Existential-Humanistic

Marriage & Couples Counselling offers a wide range of approaches that incorporate a variety of models to work in different situations. Some of the most common approaches in couples counselling are Imago therapy, emotionally focussed therapy, and Gottman approach.

One of the first undertakings of marriage & couples counselling is to set goals for the therapy. Establishing healthy communication within the relationship is one of the key components in any of the approaches make up their union, because this is what helps couples to better understand one another and the patterns that  Couples will be led to examine their communication styles and explore their attachment experiences. Healing past hurts and trauma is essential in building healthy future relationships.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Marriage & Couples Counselling, please browse our list of practitioners below..

There are a variety of approaches to address the issue of shame.  One of them is the Shame Resilience method is based on the research of Brené Brown, Ph.D. LMSW. 

Shame Resilience is the developed ability to practice authenticity when we experience shame, to move through the experience without sacrificing our values, and to come out on the other side of the shame experience with more courage, compassion, and connection than we had going into it.

Shame Resilience is about moving from shame to empathy- the real antidote to shame. Self-compassion is also critically important, because when we’re able to be tender with ourselves in the midst of shame we’re more likely to reach out, connect and experience empathy.

Other approaches, like Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems (CIMBS)  uses what is called a systems perspective that can address how an individual has learned to respond due to early trauma and or other developmental experiences.

Approaches to shame are not limited to the above.  There are many other therapies that address feeling.

If you do contact a therapist regarding shame issues please make sure that you ask them about their training in this area and choose a therapist whose approach makes sense to you.

 

Existential-Humanistic psychotherapies emphasize a collaborative approach to the understanding of the client's full experience rather than just the symptom, thoughts or behaviour. Psychological problems are viewed as the result of a restricted ability to make authentic, meaningful, and self-directed choices about how to live. Consequently, interventions are aimed at increasing client self-awareness and self-understanding. The key words for existential-humanistic therapy are acceptance and growth, responsibility and freedom.

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Anthony Cave

M.A., R.Psych
    • In-Person Sessions
About me My private practice consists of psychotherapy services for youth, adults and elders. An appointment usually lasts an hour and takes place in a confidential office setting. I also provide clinical consulting... Read more
    • Online booking
Hello, I am Autumn (RCC#19849)! I have been working in the mental health field since 2010. My goal is to bring community together through healing children, teens, families and adults while providing connection with... Read more

Heike Dumke

Ph.D. (cand), RCC
    • Online booking
Individual as well as caregiver counselling to help you regain your footing in life: Depression Anxiety Stress Management Acquired Brain Injury Cognitive Wellness Brain Health & Aging Caregiver... Read more

Norma Hoeppner

M.S.W., RSW
In private practice since 2007, Norma has been a dynamic clinical therapist across diverse health settings since 1989. Currently she practices with Clear Counselling Inc. in Vancouver, as well as an office through... Read more

Youki Kato

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology and a certified Expressive Arts Therapist. I have expertise in helping people who have experienced Domestic Violence or are... Read more