Counseling and Support for Caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Exhausted?
Underappreciated? Burnt Out?
Caregiving can be one of the hardest yet most rewarding things we do for someone we love. But it can also be so taxing. Oftentimes, we hear “you can’t pour from an empty cup” or “your car doesn’t run on empty, neither should you.” But that can feel dismissive, or unhelpful coming from someone not in your shoes. Of course, taking care of yourself always sounds like a good idea. But no one else will step in to help, or you feel guilty asking for time away. In fact, you feel selfish for asking for the space and time you need to take care of yourself.
Caregiver burnout can look like:
Experiencing frustration
Not attending to your personal responsibilities the way you normally would
You're not great at asking for help
You’re not eating well
You wish people would show you appreciation more often
Maybe, you're feeling guilty or like you’re “not doing enough”
You’ve are beginning to see (or have been told) your relationships are suffering,
Feeling rundown
Challenges sleeping
Experiencing frustration or abandonment
Pure exhaustion
Feeling like there has to be another way.
These are all very common symptoms of caregiver burnout and if just a few of these things are how you’ve been feeling lately, you’re in the right place.
Counseling and Support for Caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA Can Help!
As lonely as you may feel right now, you don’t have to walk this journey alone. I am here for you and we can help you like we have helped others – to navigate this complex role in a way that works for you. When we are in session together, this is your space to say the things you need to say. It is your time to be the priority and counseling and support for caregivers in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the ways to “fill your tank”. This allows you to be the best caregiver you can be for yourself and your loved one.
Benefits of Receiving Support as a Caregiver
Getting support as a caregiver can help you in many ways.
This includes:
Setting boundaries – Be clear on what you can and can’t do
Finding meaningful (non-cheesy) ways to “fill your gas tank”
Involves balancing your own medical appointments and personal responsibilities
Find ways to voice how you’d like to feel appreciated
Improve your relationships outside of caregiving
Reduce feelings of resentment towards others that won’t help
Work towards letting go of feelings of guilt or selfishness
Grieve the life you had before becoming a caregiver and the life you thought you’d be living right now
Process the change of relationship between you and your loved one
Caregiver support can help you learn to care for your loved ones in a more enriched way, meeting both your needs and theirs.
Bay Area Therapy For Wellness has A Unique Approach to Caregiver Support Counseling
Our therapist’s approach is to walk alongside you through this journey. This will help you shape your caregiving role in a way that will meet both your needs and the needs of your loved one. As a therapist, we have been here before and we know how this typically goes. It’s complex, it’s hard but you don’t have to do this alone. In fact, you don’t have to keep doing it in a way that only “drains the tank.” You can do this differently. That's where support from caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area can help.