What you can do to find a helpful elderly counselor
Here is reassurance that competent elderly counseling is available and can help. With this information you or family members can find the right counselor for your situation.
Today, people live active lives longer.
As life goes on, the emotional and mental well-being of seniors becomes increasingly front and center. Handling aging and its transitions can be a challenge. Objective and attentive guidance and support can help enhance quality of life, deal with anxiety and depression, and overcome loneliness.
The importance of elderly counseling
When work is gone and retirement hits, the nest is emptied out, bodies show increasing signs of decline and discomfort, mobility decreases and social support falls away, a person can feel beset with what to do now.
The research is clear that people do better when they have a trained and seasoned counselor to talk to, someone who will listen and give useful feedback. The aging process diminishes the support sources available to a person. Steady friends, companions and work connections sooner or later are no longer available. Loneliness can turn into depression and the fear we call anxiety.
A couple fortunate to still have each other can find that living in close quarters requires new patterns of interaction and conflict management. Many couples have planned for the financial aspects of later life but not the emotional realities.
A qualified and compassionate therapist provides direction and suggestions for solutions to deal with what can be difficult times. The Golden Years are not always so Golden.
Benefits of counseling for the elderly
I am a counselor and mental health professional for seniors. I understand the unique physical, emotional, and social challenges of a couple or individual handling adult-child issues, reinventing new identities for themselves after retirement and finding healthy adjustments to other limits aging brings. I help people find tailored support, interventions and solutions that heal and repair loss.
Seeking counseling can provide a multitude of benefits for the elderly if the professional you work with has the experience and qualifications to fit the situation.
The questions below can give a more accurate idea if the counselor you’re considering can help.
Questions to ask to help know if you have the right elderly counselor for you
Key questions to ask a potential mental health professional:
1. What is your experience working with the elderly population? Ask about the counselor's specific training, certifications, and the number of years they have been working with older adults.
2. How do you approach counseling for the elderly? Inquire about their therapeutic approach, the types of interventions they use, and how they tailor their services to meet the unique needs of their senior clients.
3. Do you have any specialized knowledge or expertise in addressing common issues faced by the elderly, such as chronic illness, cognitive decline, or end-of-life planning?
4. How do you involve family members or caregivers in the counseling process? Effective elderly counseling often requires a collaborative approach with the client's support network.
5. What are your availability and scheduling options? Consider whether the counselor's hours and location are convenient for you or your loved one.
6. What are your fees, and do you accept insurance or other forms of payment? Understand the financial commitment upfront to ensure it aligns with your budget.
Different approaches to elderly counseling
Senior counselors use a variety of counseling methods to best meet the needs of their clients including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy and grief management. I also use structural family therapy to find ways to adjust and move on to find relief and peace of mind.
Tips for a successful elderly counseling experience
When you work with me, I want you to have realistic expectations for outcomes that reduce emotional pain and add to your quality of life. I work to help you find ways that work for you to restore fun with your loved ones and solutions that last.
I meet with you via telehealth virtual counseling in the comfort of the setting of your choice, such as your home.
The platform I use to meet with you is called TheraPlatform, a highly encrypted website which is HIPAA compliant. I do everything necessary to ensure your counseling with me is confidential, professionally ethical and legal.
I am a licensed PhD counseling psychologist trained in family therapy, strategic behavioral therapy and geriatric challenges. I am a certified Medicare counselor and a licensed substance abuse counselor.
I can help you reduce tension in your marriage or other significant relationships.
Together we will explore avenues for to you renew a sense of purpose and meaning in your life. If anxiety, depression, grief, or addictive activities are getting in the way, there are solutions for those impediments. As needed, we will work together to identify and cultivate enjoyable activities, hobbies, or social connections that bring you fulfillment and enhance your overall quality of life.
With elderly counseling as you face and deal with the demands of aging, together we will unlock your potential for a life filled with joy, purpose, and connection.