Emotional support for parents, spouses/partners & siblings of individuals with physical or developmental disabilities
Living with someone who has a disability comes with many challenges. Do any of the following sound familiar?
- You are constantly drained and exhausted, because all of your time and energy goes into supporting the disabled family member.
- You feel a loss of control. Plans frequently get broken, because your living situation comes with a high degree of uncertainty.
- The stresses of daily life put a strain on your family and sibling relationships.
- You are saddened, because the dream of having a “perfect family” did not materialize.
- You feel unable to carve out any time for self-care.
- Intimacy does not occur with the passion or regularity that you would like.
Supporting a disabled person in your life may mean helping with activities such as going to doctors’ appointments, attending Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings, assisting with transportation or preparing food. It can also involve coordinating care and services or offering emotional support. As a caregiver or family member of a loved one with special needs, you may feel overwhelmed and at times invisible. And you may develop caregiver fatigue. I can offer you emotional and task support to ease your stress and to help you take care of yourself.
There can be more joy in your life!
Don’t despair if you are feeling depleted, frustrated or guilty. Through our work together, you will learn how to cope with your feelings and ask for help, how to develop effective ways of communicating and how to set healthy boundaries that will improve your family’s quality of life. If you are interested in exploring financial assistance and support services for a disabled family member, I can offer you guidance about a wide range of programs and tools to help with housing, medical bills, adaptive technology, subsidized caregiving assistance, vehicle modifications or accommodations at work or school. I can provide you with ways to take care of your loved one while also caring for yourself.
Empower yourself with the help you need.
Making the choice to seek support is powerful and courageous; it means you understand that what you are currently doing is no longer working and that you are ready to embrace positive change. Our work together can support both your immediate and long term needs. We will strive together to develop ways for you to care your physical and emotional self, to find and use helpful resources and to create forward movement in your life.