In ""Caregiving"", Dr. Tim Elliott demonstrates his approach to counseling people who provide care to those in need. Caregiving is an emotionally draining and demanding role, meaning that caregivers often require help in learning to meet their own needs. In this session, Dr. Elliott works with a 32-year-old single mother of four whose eldest son Joseph has cerebral palsy. He has severe mobility problems, retardation, and is visually impaired and unable to swallow. He is on several medications and a series of physical activities. His mother describes some of her struggles as caregiver, including a suicide attempt following some insensitive medical care. Dr. Elliott counsels her on self-care and ways to find balance in her life. The social problem-solving model is embedded in classic principles of cognitive - behavioral therapy. It provides an excellent format for understanding and conceptualizing the problems experienced by individuals who provide daily, ongoing assistance to a family member with a severe physical disability. This approach works best within a traditional, empathic, and professional counseling relationship, although the basic elements of the problem-solving model can be taught in psychoeducational groups and brief presentations.
