Caregiver's Compass

In this episode Stephanie summarizes the top 5 episodes from season two of Caregiver’s Compass. Thank YOU for making season 2 what it was. Such a fantastic season full of incredible topics and guests. See you for season 3 next year!

1) Episode 48: 

 GUILT in Caregiving- how it arises, how to manage it, and the differences between guilt vs. shame (with Wendy Williams)

 2)  Episode 54:

 My Life Completely Changed When my Boyfriend was Assaulted and Suddenly Faced a Traumatic Brain Injury’- caregiving after a very sudden and traumatic life shift, with Katherine Smith

 3) Episode 57:

From inpatient nurse to caregiving consultant- how losing her job and burning out resulted in finding a daily passion for helping others- With Karen Lake
 
4) Episode 58:

Managing postpartum mental health while caring for 1+ children and/or another family member- with Kelly Polci (MSW,RSW)

 5) Episode 47:

 How Do I Know if I am a Caregiver (Demystifying the Definition of a Caregiver and the Stigma Associated With It/ Identifying as a Caregiver When Society Says You Are Not)

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

Join our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnection

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In this episode, postpartum coach, Jaquie Dason, discusses losing her mom to cancer at the age of 18 and raising 2 children while feeling significant grief not having her by her side. Jaquie talks about why she created her company which provides postpartum coaching to moms who need that extra support and guidance during the difficult early periods of having a newborn. 

About Jaquie:

Jaquie is a Postpartum Coach, CAPPA Certified New Parent Educator, Certified Infant Sleep Consultant and Mom of 2. Jaquie supports postpartum moms so they feel empowered to take on motherhood with confidence and joy. She helps with everything from postpartum mind and body to baby sleep, feeding, solid food and development.

Find Jaquie

On her website: http://www.postpartumcoaching.ca

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaquiepostpartumcoach/

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In episode 65, Francine Waskavitz discusses how she, as a memory coach, helps those struggling with their memory and memory loss. She discusses how she works with clients to optimize memory, including clients with dementia and other neurological concerns. She also talks about dementia prevention and preventing possible memory progression with a dementia diagnosis. 

About Francine:

Francine Waskavitz, owner and lead coach at Longevity Coaching, LLC. is a memory health expert dedicated to helping you get your memory back, strengthen it and keep it healthy for a lifetime.

Her mission is to empower you to take early action to support your brain health so you can thrive in the life you’ve worked so hard to create, without memory loss interrupting your plans.

Creator of the Memory Confidence Map™ Francine uncovered how to use the power of mindset and lifestyle to overcome and prevent memory loss. Now in her practice, Francine guides clients from forgetful to focused with a clear and personalized approach to memory health.

Francine has her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) from the University of South Florida. She also attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) where she became an Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach.

Leveraging her expertise in memory from her 10 years as an SLP with her passion for health and wellness, Francine is dismantling the myth that memory loss is inevitable with age. 

Find Francine:

On her website:

https://www.francinewaskavitz.com/

On instagram: @francinewaskavitz

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In episode 64, Adrienne talks about how she got through university and graduate school as a caregiver herself while at her grandparent’s side in the hospital. Stephanie additionally touches on her experience caring for her grandmother at her bedside while in graduate school. She additionally discusses how difficult this time can be and how to get through. 

About Adrienne:

Dr. Adrienne Shnier, M.A., Ph.D., J.D., is a mother and founder of two companies. Adrienne is the Advancement Coach & Strategist and Founder (2015) of Apply Yourself: The Advancement Spot Inc., where she holistically, healthily, and strategically works collaboratively with university students and their families to achieve lives beyond their wildest dreams, often starting with graduate and professional school applications using her personal experience with applications cycles, as well as her extensive experience as a member of academic admissions committees. Adrienne also founded Shnier Law & Policy Consulting, Professional Corporation (2020), serving small businesses, health-related clinics and practices, and regulated and unregulated health professional associations. Adrienne is also a professor of health and pharmaceutical policy, regulation, and law at a Toronto university and Toronto law school. Adrienne has published and lectured on her research internationally and supervises undergraduate and graduate students in their research. When Adrienne takes a break, you can find her kayaking up north or sipping a latte on a nice patio…but she’s probably still thinking about what’s next!

Find Adrienne: 

On her website: http://www.applyyourselelfglobal.com
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applyyourselfglobal/ 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

You may be thinking to yourself: how could therapy possibly help me as a caregiver? Therapy cannot get rid of the tasks at hand or the responsibilities I have or my loved one’s decline- so how could a therapist help me with my overwhelm, stress, sadness and burnout?

And in this episode, Stephanie discusses how the deep concerns that caregivers come to her with are often not even about the caregiving at all.In episode 63 Stephanie explores what often arises when caregivers come to her for support and how she helps caregivers through these difficult times.

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In episode 62, Stephanie speaks to Adria Thompson who, in 2021, grew her passion for helping dementia caregivers and those with dementia as an SLP with Be Light Care Consulting. She talks about how her career as a speech language pathologist led to her overall vision to provide support to caregivers around the world.

About Adria:

Adria Thompson is a speech language pathologist, a dementia educator, and is the founder of Be Light Care Consulting. She has 8 years experience providing one-on-one speech therapy services with adults and found her passion and purpose in specifically working with people with dementia. She has spent the last 3 years developing dementia programs for therapy companies and training other therapists to increase their effectiveness and confidence. She now provides one-on-one consulting services and creates daily videos of realistic, functional care tips for professional and personal caregivers of individuals with dementia.

Find Adria:

On Instagram: @belightcare 

Website: https://www.belightcare.com/

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In episode 61, Lisa Sonshine from the Juno Award winning duo Sonshine and Broccoli talks to Stephanie about her father’s FTD diagnosis, decline and passing- a part of her life she has not shared in great detail in the past. She notes how she has taken her grief from this very difficult time and has poured it into her passion for uplifting others through music and performance. 

About Lisa:  

Lisa is the co-founder and creator of Sonshine and Broccoli as well as a proud wife, entertainer and mom of 2 boys Zade and Barryn bringing joy, style, positivity and sonshine to all.

With her sons Zade and baby Barryn in tow,she is just getting started as a new mom with the drive and passion to support, motivate and entertain other moms going through the stages of motherhood by her side.

Find Lisa 

Instagram: @sonshinel

Website: https://www.sonshineandbroccoli.com/

 *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In Episode 60, Stephanie discusses a commonly expressed thought that many of her clients express having: I wish this situation would just end. She explores the guilt, shame and embarrassment that can surround this thought and the reasons why a caregiver may have these thoughts. 

*Please note: If you ever have the intention or thought of harming yourself or someone else please contact your local emergency department immediately.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

In episode 59, Stephanie further talks about her journey after her mom’s initial diagnosis of FTD. She touches upon what her life looked like after she moved out of her home, caregiving for her grandmother, how she established boundaries when it came to balancing her own life and her mom’s care and how life has been since she had 3 children of her own.

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

In this episode, Stephanie speaks to social worker Kelly Polci who has worked with pregnant and postpartum women and families in high-risk obstetrics and the NICU. They look at the systemic definition of postpartum and what supports are currently available in the postpartum period to women in Ontario. They additionally talk about scenarios in which a mother may have a child requiring NICU care while needing to go to and from the hospital to care for other family members and how one can balance their mental health needs at this time.

Kelly Polci, MSW, RSW is a registered social worker and psychotherapist in private practice. She now works at The Hospital for Sick Children. The bulk of her career was in high risk obstetrics and a high-acuity neonatal intensive care unit at another hospital. Her passion and expertise is in women’s and more specifically reproductive mental health. 

Find Kelly:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/kelly-polci-toronto-on/831972

http://www.instagram.com/kellypolcitherapy

Group Therapy Works: https://www.grouptherapyworks.ca/

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving