Caregiver Burnout Counselling
Who I help
I support women who are:
Caring for ageing parents
Caring for a partner with an illness
Caring for any family members who are ill or disabled
Caring for a child with additional needs
Caring for young children at home and feeling overwhelmed
Experiencing long term caregiving stress
Feeling emotionally exhausted, invisible or isolated
Right now, you may be caring for children, ageing parents, partners or loved ones with an illness or disability. Over time the constant responsibility leads to emotional exhaustion and a loss of connection with your own needs. The balancing act of remembering all the things you need to do and keeping all the balls in the air is overwhelming. You may also be experiencing anticipatory grief while you witness your loved one decline. You are doing a great job but in reality, you cannot do it all and hold it all together over a long period of time without burning out.
Carer burnout counselling offers a supportive space where you can speak openly about your emotions and challenges and be heard and understood without judgement.
The focus is on recognizing the signs of burnout, processing emotions, managing stress, developing boundaries and strategies for ‘me time’ which all align with your values.
The goal is for you to feel supported and valued as a person and not just as a caregiver.
Signs of caregiver burnout:
Lack of empathy or becoming more cynical
Constant fatigue
Feeling suffocated or trapped
Irritability or anxiety
Guilt when taking time off
feeling invalidated or invisible
Sleep problems
Loss of identity
Lack of capacity for self-care
Waves of sadness and crying
Therapy can feel like letting go of what is weighing you down.
Unique Challenges for Women
Three million Australians provide unpaid care which is 11.9% pf the population. They provide care for others (usually family members) with disability, chronic illness, mental illness and frailty due to older age. Women are twice as likely to be the primary caregiver. The average age of a carer is 50 years. Women peak in caregiving around the age of 45-64 as they are usually caring for dependent or disabled children and/or aged parents. If we remove from the statistics women caring for children, there are still 2.2 million remain caring for spouses, adult children with special needs or elderly parents (2022 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers by ABS).
Right now, you may be a young mum at home feeling isolated and judged on social media. You may be a midlife woman in the ‘sandwich generation’ who has young adult children and ageing parents to look after and are employed or having to cut back on work hours. You may be going through menopause or have other health issues, you may be divorced or you may be on your own through bereavement. You may be an older woman and your ability to work and earn money may have been impacted which leads to a less money in retirement. There is likely to be grief bottling up inside you as over the years as you will have experienced many losses. When women spend their lives caring for others, they may not know the answer to - Who am I? What do I want? Where do I go from here?
There is a Way Out
Counselling can help a burnt-out caregiver by providing a safe space to talk openly about stress, exhaustion, guilt, loss and grief. Many caregivers spend so much time supporting others that their own needs are overlooked. Counselling helps carers understand the impact of chronic stress and learn ways to manage overwhelm and tension, set healthy boundaries, reconnect with their own wellbeing so they can care for themselves as well as those they love. It is never too late to set goals by using baby steps and to live a more fulfilling life that is aligned with your values.
Dealing with Stress and Anxiety?
Access my free booklet to learn more about stress and anxiety in your nervous system so you can more easily return to feeling calm.