When Amy, aged 73, was referred to Caring Together Charity by the Cambridgeshire advice line, she was struggling to cope. Her husband had been diagnosed with dementia, and as his condition worsened, Amy found herself overwhelmed physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Amy received 18 sessions of online counselling support through Caring Together Charity. These sessions proved to be a turning point in her journey as a carer. Reflecting on the experience, Amy shared her heartfelt feedback:
“When I started my counselling sessions I was at a very low point. My husband had been diagnosed with Cognitive Impairment back in 2019 and I had seen his condition greatly worsen within the 12 months before I started counselling. I was at a loss as to where to find help.”
Like many carers, Amy had been carrying a heavy emotional burden, often in silence. The support she received gave her space to express her fears, talk through her responsibilities, and find practical ways forward.
“Caring Together Charity helped alleviate that problem. As well as attending the local Carers Group, my counselling sessions have been so helpful and supportive. I have no doubt that because of my counsellor’s experience in working with Carers she understood what the impact of the changes in our situation was having on my relationship with my husband and the extra responsibility that was being transferred to me I was finding stressful.”
Amy’s sessions allowed her to reflect, adapt, and learn to manage the stress of her changing role; “There were times when I wondered whether I could cope with that responsibility, and I was able to talk this through and realise that by employing strategies this would help with the care of us both. I am sure that without having a counsellor who genuinely understood my situation things might have turned out to be disastrous for me and my family.”
But the support didn’t stop at counselling. Amy also began attending one of our local Carers Hubs, giving her an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations and gain access to valuable resources and information.
“Caring Together Charity provide a service of support that is absolutely essential for those who look after people with mental health illnesses. With it I felt able to follow up leads for groups that could give us support both in the terms of socialising for my husband and ‘me time’ for me.”
The combination of emotional support and practical advice made a profound difference in Amy’s life. “The Caring Together Charity counselling service is a life-saver and I am so thankful I found out about it, and I am extremely grateful for my counsellor’s support (especially her listening skills, and for understanding me as an individual) and for the help the Carers Group providing a space to chat and have access to information to help us and those we care for.”
If you are caring for a loved one and need support, you are not alone. Caring Together Charity offers specialist counselling in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. To find out more please visit either of the below links:
