Caring For A Loved One
Chronic Illness Therapy For Caregivers In Maryland - Help Get Your Family Back On Track
Alicia Dorn, MS, LCPC Is A Chronic Illness Therapist and she is accepting new patients, please inquire today.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to learn more about counseling. If you are a caregiver for someone with a chronic illness and feeling stressed and burned out, you’re in the right place.
Below you’ll find more information about what counseling is like with me. I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have after reading it, please call me at 443-977-4885 or email me at amdorn@aliciadorncounseling.com to either talk more about the process or to explore working together.
The life you live as a caregiver is hard and full of emotion. It’s a struggle to find the time for yourself with all that is on your plate. But the very act of making it to this page means that you are ready to make yourself a priority while you continue to care for your chronically ill loved one.
Take a deep breath… You’ve made it.
Being a caregiver is not what you had originally planned. Even if you knew of the possibility, the reality is harder than you imagined. Not only does your loved one have to make major changes, but you have also sacrificed so much to be there and care for them as best you can. To be able to do that, you have to not lose yourself. And that means, finding time to help yourself.
It’s possible to be a helper to others while also having time to live your life with joy and purpose. You can be a caregiver (and wear other hats) without guilt and shame.
I’m here to help you carry your load of emotions and responsibility while also making your life as functional and meaningful as possible.
I’m not here to sell you a fairy tale… After all, caring for a chronically ill loved one comes with many challenges. It’s NOT a walk in the park. However, making the space to put yourself first once in a while is vital for you to be at your best in all areas of your life. We can work on this together.
Caregiver Burnout & Learning To Take Care Of Yourself
Life as a caregiver has not been a cakewalk for you. It’s freaking hard and exhausting! Although you feel honored caring for your loved one, you’re struggling to catch your breath because it’s so much work.
You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, angry, sad and honestly not feeling well yourself. Others have offered to help, but you feel too guilty to accept it – so you decline.
Nowadays, you worry about how long this will last before you need someone caring for you…All of these feelings are a warning signs. It’s time to address what’s going on for you and get the support you need NOW so you don’t lose yourself in this process.
Caregiving is one of the hardest jobs (it’s a 24/7 job!) that you’ll ever undertake in your life. Because the truth is, you can’t just take a few days off from your loved one, they still need to be cared for.
All of this results in feeling burned out if you don’t have a plan for how to care for yourself. The increased, long-term stress has the capacity to make you ill and negatively affect your own mental health.
But it doesn’t have to end this way.
Why Therapy?
Therapy helps caregivers learn that it is perfectly acceptable to prioritize your own physical and mental health while caring for your chronically ill loved one. Whether it’s your child, spouse, parent or extended family member, it is possible to have a life outside of being a caregiver. You can still live a life with fulfilling experiences and relationships while caring for your loved one.
Therapy helps you to emotionally cope with the stress that comes with caregiving, while also using practical daily tools to balance your time and life responsibilities. You can also learn helpful ways to adjust to your new norm. Most importantly, you don’t have to do it all on your own.
If you want to feel a sense of stability, less stress and more confidence while caring for your chronically ill loved one, give me a call. I look forward to supporting you on your journey!
Getting Started
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to meet with me.
We can discuss your goals in the meeting and make a decision about when to begin counseling if the fit feels right. Once we have a plan, I’ll schedule your intake evaluation and you will receive a link to open your private therapy portal.
All paperwork and counseling sessions are completed on the portal. All material shared with me either in writing or in person is confidential.
To get started, please call me at 443-977-4885 or email me at amdorn@aliciadorncounseling.com to either talk more about the process or to explore working together.