Caregiver Support Group

Group Type: Support Group

Who Is The Group For?

• Primary Caregivers
  • If you’re caring for a child, parent, partner, or family member and often feel emotionally or physically drained.
• Feeling Overwhelmed
  • If you’re struggling to balance caregiving with your own life, work, and relationships
• Experiencing Guilt or Isolation
  • If you find it hard to ask for help, feel guilty for needing a break, or believe no one fully understands your situation.
• Seeking Perspective & Renewal
  • If you want space to reflect, share honestly, and rediscover parts of yourself that caregiving may have overshadowed.

Glimpse of the Session:

Session 1: Who Am I Beyond Caregiving?

• Identity & Connection
• Introduction of the group and facilitator
• Group agreements and ground rules
• Icebreaker activity to build rapport and connection
• Who is a caregiver? What does caregiving really involve?
• Share a few adjectives or feelings you associate with caregiving
• Explore identity beyond the caregiver role: what parts of you have been put aside?
• Activity: Creative expression — create a “caregiver identity card” that reflects both your caregiving role and the parts of you that still matter

Session 2: A Day in the Life of a Caregiver

• Daily Challenges & Emotional Awareness
• Discuss day-to-day caregiving tasks and emotional labor
• Reflect on decision-making, errands, medical management, and caregiving routines
• How to cope with difficult moments with the care recipient
• Explore common caregiving emotions: guilt, anger, detachment, loneliness, frustration
• Understand your emotions vs. the emotions of the person you care for
• Activity: Time-mapping exercise + discussion on time management and small goal-setting
• Tools/Handout: Time management tips, goal-setting worksheet

Session 3: Understanding Stress and Triggers

• Caring for the Caregiver
• What does stress look like for you as a caregiver?
• What are your personal triggers in caregiving?
• Recognize stress symptoms in the body and nervous system
• Healthy ways to express stress (vs. bottling it up)
• Coping skills
• Caregiver Burnout
• What does burnout feel and look like?
• Explore early signs of burnout
• Coping strategies to prevent or reduce caregiver fatigue
• Activity:
  • Journaling prompts: “What drains me the most right now?”
  • Role play: Practicing saying no, or asking for help
  • Coping techniques: Breathwork, grounding, visualization
  • Guided practice: JPMR (Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation)

Session 4: Communication & Crisis Management

• Navigating Challenging Situations
• How to communicate calmly with your care recipient
• Identifying and responding to difficult behaviors with children or older adults
• Behavior management: Reducing agitation, resistance, emotional outbursts
• Crisis Management
• What is paranoia or regression? How might it show up?
• Responding to barriers, resistance, and shutdowns in crisis moments
• Long-term self care strategies.
• Activity:
  • Role play: Practicing responses in challenging caregiving situations
  • Group reflection: “What behavior is hardest for me to manage, and why?”
  • Final sharing round: One strength I’ve discovered in myself during this group