Support groups for caregivers have blossomed all over, and for very good reason.  They recognize that when people are carrying the responsibilities tied to caring for an older or disabled family member, they need to know they are not alone.  Caregivers need education, they need peers, they need validation.  But when is a support group not enough?

Caregivers learn early in the support group process that most information is given in a generic format, with some attention paid to member’s particular situations, but if a caregiver finds that their stress, decision making or emotional upset is causing them to lose sleep, feel depressed, drained or anxious, they may be experiencing symptoms that can only really be addressed in an individual or group counseling session.

Counseling interventions differ from those provided in a support group setting  in 4 ways.

• First, licensed clinical counselors have been trained to assist the client to explore unresolved  family dynamics that may be at the root of the client’s stress.
• Secondly, a therapist can often help the client identify common unconscious, but distorted, thought processes that cause the client to feel stuck, anxious or depressed.  Tools to assist a caregiver reduce the effect of these negative thought patterns are significant in helping a caregiver feel competent and valued.
• Third, a caregiver may have personal trauma or pain unrelated to the caregiving they are providing, but it acts as a  trigger, nonetheless, that affects their ability to provide quality care to their family member.
• Finally, there is the issue of privacy.  While most support groups review the rules of confidentiality with their members, a member may still feel that the source of their worries cannot be shared comfortably in a group without the facilitation of a licensed counselor or therapist.

Many clinical therapists help caregivers and provide them with the tools that will enable them to maintain their own emotional well-being while caring for a disabled loved one. Many of these tools will enable the client to more fully participate in their support group without the baggage of personal crises and negative self-talk that can be diminish the positive impact a support group can have in a caregiver’s life.