Counselling for Parents & Carers

Overwhelmed by the pressures of caring for others

When you’re the one other people depend on, it can feel as though you should cope, be strong and know what’s needed. You might find yourself wondering if you’re doing enough or doing it “right”.

Life can become exhausting when everything seems to fall on your shoulders. The responsibilities for caring can result in life feeling lonely, fearful and draining. Finding space for your own needs, rest and feelings may be challenging.

Counselling for parents and carers offers time that is just for you – somewhere to express the challenges you may be experiencing and explore how you might move forward.

How counselling can support parents & carers

Counselling can give you:

• Time and space dedicated for you – where you can express yourself honestly and be heard
• A place to process worry, guilt, anger, resentment, grief and love, and the feeling of being stuck, without judgement
• Support to explore what you’d like to be different and the choices you may have, even when options feel limited
• Help to build resilience in a way that feels sustainable – through boundaries, self-care that actually fits your life, and shifts in how you see yourself

Therapy will enable you to pause, receive support for yourself, and find more trust in the decisions that feel right for you and the people you care for.

I offer counselling for parents and carers in Ealing (W13 / W5) and online across the UK. Our sessions are a dedicated space where you can step back from the demands of caring and pay attention to how you are.

Who I work with

Carers supporting a loved one with illness or mental health difficulties

If you are supporting a partner, family member or friend with a long-term mental or physical health condition, the practical and emotional responsibilities can feel overwhelming. You may be managing appointments, crises and everyday tasks while also trying to hold your own life together. It can be hard to talk openly about how much this impacts you.

Parents under pressure

Parents who are:

• • Juggling work pressures, intimate relationships and child rearing
  • Supporting children and young adults struggling with anxiety, low mood, eating difficulties or school stress
  • Doubting their parenting skills or feeling responsible when things are hard

In counselling, we can explore the pressures you’re under, the parent you want to be, and what support you need

The Sandwich Generation

You may be caring for children and ageing parents at the same time. This “sandwich generation” role can leave you feeling stretched in all directions, with no time to rest or recharge.

You might feel you can’t keep supporting everyone in the way you are but also feel guilty that you’re struggling. Together, we can look at what you want to be different, what you’re carrying, and supporting your own wellbeing.

Common feelings and struggles we might explore

Parents and carers often come to counselling feeling worn down and unsure how to keep going. Some of the themes we might look at include:

• Self-doubt – frequently questioning your decisions and feeling torn about what’s “best”, while finding it hard to step back and see the bigger picture
• A sense of never doing enough – guilt about how you feel, and a belief that you should be able to do more, do better and stay calm
• Exhaustion, burnout and resentment – your emotional and physical batteries are drained; you may snap at those around you and be left feeling awful
• Losing yourself in the caring role – your own needs aren’t met, and the fun has gone out of your life; you may not remember what you enjoy anymore
• Constant worry about others – feeling unable to switch off from thoughts about the people you care for, even when you’re not with them

These difficulties are understandable given all that you are carrying. Counselling gives support to make sense of your challenges and find gentler ways forward.

My experience with parents & carers

I have over 10 years’ experience supporting carers, including those caring for loved ones with mental health difficulties, eating disorders, chronic illness and debilitating conditions. I’ve also worked as a peer coach and support group facilitator for parents and carers of people with eating disorders.

Alongside my professional training, I have a personal understanding of the struggles of co-parenting, single parenting and caring for family members with poor mental and physical health. This shapes a grounded, down-to-earth approach where your reality is taken seriously.

You can read more about my background and training on my About page.

What to expect

1. Introductory call

I offer a free 15-minute introductory call so we can see whether we feel like a good fit to work together, and you can ask any questions about counselling for parents and carers.

2. First session

In our first session, there is space to explore in more detail what has brought you to therapy, who you are and what you’d like to be different. You set the pace.

3. Ongoing sessions

Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly, in person in Ealing (W13 / W5) or online across the UK.

• • I usually suggest committing to at least six sessions and then reviewing our work together
  • You decide what feels manageable in terms of timing and duration
  • I won’t tell you how to parent or care – instead, we explore what matters to you, what feels possible, and what support you need

Is now the right time to reach out?

You may have been thinking, “I can’t carry on like this” for some time. Signs that change is needed might include feeling exhausted, more anxious or tearful than usual, struggling to ease your stress, growing resentment about the load you’re carrying, or feeling that family and friends just don’t understand.

You deserve care, too. If this resonates, I’d be happy to support you. You’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an introductory call.