I have been a therapist for over 25 year, and my primary specialty is working with familial care-partners. From both personal (family members with Parkinson’s and ALS) and professional (serving as the Director of Clinical Supervision at the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego several years ago) experience, I am intimately versed in the emotional toll Parkinson’s takes on the whole family unit, particularly on the care-partner.

Feelings of loss, sadness, frustration, fear, guilt, overwhelm, anxiety, and depression are very common. Care-partners often tell me that they feel blindsided, cheated out of the future they had expected – of travel, spending more time with family, visiting friends, and easing into retirement with their partner.
Now they are faced with a very different present and future. This can bring up lots of different emotions. All too often, care-partners have no respite, no time to care for themselves in between taking their loved one to endless doctor’s appointments and activities, and often being the only person taking care of their partner’s physical needs.

My role is to offer a space that is just for you, the care-partner. A safe place to be honest and open about your experience and feelings. A supportive place where we work together to tap into the strength you think you’ve lost, to develop coping skills that work uniquely for you, and to find a sense of wellbeing despite, and along with, the challenges in your life.

My therapeutic style is interactive, warm, supportive, accepting, respectful, intentional, and holistic. I meet you where you are. Most often I utilize cognitive, psychodynamic, IFS, solution focused and strength-based therapeutic interventions. I believe in collaborating with my clients to help them feel engaged in the therapeutic process and empowered to make the changes necessary to achieve their goals.

Website: yvengerlcsw.com

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