Counselling and companion work for for Older Adults and Caregivers
I offer counselling for adults navigating the challenges of later life, as well as partners and families supporting loved ones living with dementia or Parkinson’s, including those adjusting to changing relationships and caregiving responsibilities.
Sessions are available in person in Kitsilano and online across BC and Saskatchewan.
Sessions are a place to talk through what has changed, work out what matters most to you now, and find practical ways through the days that feel hardest.
What brings older adults to counselling
Some of what folks bring to this work:
retirement, and the loss of a role or routine
grief and loss, including the loss of a partner or friends
loneliness and isolation
changes in health, mobility or independence
a new diagnosis, for yourself or someone close to you
moving home, downsizing or moving into care
caring for a partner or parent living with dementia or Parkinson's
anxiety, low mood and worry about the future
family relationships and changing roles
looking back on your life, and making sense of it
I also work with the full range of everyday concerns, and with adults of all ages. You do not need a diagnosis, or to be a certain age, to book a consultation.
Caregivers and families
Caring for someone through dementia or Parkinson's changes a relationship and often a whole household. I work with partners and adult children who are carrying that role: the practical load, the grief that can arrive before a loss, guilt, exhaustion, and the question of how to look after yourself as well.
How I work
I work at your pace, and I adjust to the way you learn and take in new information. My approach draws on narrative therapy, mindfulness, ACT and somatic approaches. With older adults that often means space to tell your story, to look at what it means now, and to notice what still brings you meaning, connection and enjoyment.
Sessions are available in person in Kitsilano or online. If online sessions are new to you, we can take time at the start to get the technology working.
Common questions about counselling for older adults and their families
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Counselling provides support for the emotional and practical challenges that come with later life, including retirement, grief, loneliness, changes in health and shifting family relationships. Sessions offer space to discuss difficult experiences, adjust to changing circumstances and work through concerns about the future.
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Yes. Retirement often brings significant changes to daily routines, social relationships and a person's sense of purpose. Counselling helps you explore how these changes affect you and find meaningful ways to approach this new stage of life, particularly if the transition has been more difficult than expected.
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Yes. Loneliness can become more pronounced following retirement, the loss of a partner, changes in mobility or reduced contact with friends and family. Counselling provides regular opportunities for conversation and emotional support while helping you identify ways to strengthen social connections and address the circumstances contributing to isolation.
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Yes, if that is what you would like. Let me know in the consultation and we can plan it together.
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You can seek counselling for yourself even if your parent does not wish to participate. Supporting an ageing parent, particularly one experiencing cognitive decline or serious health difficulties, can bring up complicated emotions and difficult decisions. Counselling helps you manage these responsibilities and find ways to respond to challenges within your family.
Finding a good fit and relationship with a counsellor is a part of the process. Booking a consult is a low-pressure way of meeting to see how it feels.