Can therapy actually help with physical symptoms?

Therapy won’t make symptoms disappear, but it can reduce stress, improve your emotional response to pain or illness, and help you feel more in control.

What kinds of chronic conditions do you specialize in?

We work with people managing chronic pain (like back, neck, or joint pain), autoimmune conditions (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), metabolic conditions (like diabetes), GI issues (like IBS), cancer, and sleep-related concerns. We also support caregivers of those living with these conditions.

Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy with you?

No. Whether you have a formal diagnosis or are just struggling with ongoing symptoms, you're welcome here. Our focus is on your lived experience, not labels.

Caregiver Therapy and Counseling in Florida

Therapy that helps caregivers manage stress, set healthy boundaries, and stay grounded while caring for someone they love. We serve caregivers throughout Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and the wider Southwest Florida area. Whether you attend sessions in person or connect via telehealth anywhere in Florida, support is available wherever you are.

How You May Be Feeling

Caregiving takes more than time and energy; it can weigh on your spirit, mind, and body. The emotional toll of watching someone you love struggle with chronic illness can be overwhelming. You may feel:

Overwhelmed and Exhausted

Juggling appointments, household duties, and maybe a job or your own health concerns can leave you running on fumes. No matter how much you do, it never feels like enough. It’s hard to remember the last time you truly rested or had a moment just for yourself. Do you feel like you’re disappearing behind your caregiving role?

Anxious and Down

When your loved one has a bad day or a new symptom, your worry skyrockets. You might lie awake imagining worst-case scenarios, feeling powerless to stop what’s happening. That helplessness can leave you on edge, dreading what tomorrow might bring. Are you constantly anxious about your loved one’s health but neglecting your own?

Guilty and Burnt Out

You crave a break or feel frustrated, and then guilt rushes in. You might tell yourself you shouldn’t complain because you’re not the one who’s sick. Feeling overwhelmed, resentful, or even angry (then ashamed) is more common than you think. Many caregivers also find value in exploring Chronic Illness Therapy, which can complement your healing process.

How Caregiver Therapy Can Help

Therapy offers space to explore feelings, set healthy boundaries, and care for your well-being. We help ease your emotional load, so you can keep showing up without burning out or losing yourself.

Woman taking a quiet moment on a bench, practicing mindfulness to manage caregiver stress

Manage Stress and Prevent Burnout

We’ll work on calming techniques, like breathing exercises or mindfulness, and build habits that protect your energy long-term. This might include learning to delegate, say “no,” and set boundaries so caring for your loved one doesn’t mean neglecting yourself. Over time, these skills can help you feel more stable and less on the edge of burnout.

Man seeing a vibrant reflection of himself in a mirror, reconnecting with personal values beyond caregiving

Reconnect with Your Needs and Values

Therapy helps you reconnect with who you are outside the caregiver role. Together, we’ll explore what fulfills you and find doable ways to bring them back. By clarifying your values and giving yourself permission to matter, you can start to feel more like you again.

Woman meditating peacefully, grounded and centered despite caregiver responsibilities

Stay Grounded

Therapy helps you navigate that uncertainty with more steadiness. We’ll teach you to ride the emotional waves by practicing acceptance, calming anxious thoughts, and building emotional resilience. The unknown may still be there, but it doesn’t have to pull you into constant panic. Many caregivers describe therapy as the anchor that helps them stay grounded.

Practical Benefits of Caregiver Therapy

Set Healthier Boundaries

Ask for Help

Delegate Tasks

Say “No” When Needed

Reconnect With Your Needs

Learn to Reset Stress

Regain Sense of purpose

You can also read our blog post “Caregiver Therapy: Why You Deserve Support Too” to learn practical strategies for boundary-setting and self-compassion.

Our Approach

We use science-backed methods to address the interconnected pieces of your well-being and tailor therapy to you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT teaches active and practical skills to manage stress and feel more in control. You’ll learn to notice and shift unhelpful thought patterns (worst-case scenario or guilt) and solve everyday challenges more effectively. CBT is especially helpful for reducing anxiety, depression, and caregiver burnout. It focuses on what you can change.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps you carry the emotional weight of caregiving with more ease. Instead of getting stuck in painful thoughts (“I can’t do this anymore” or “This isn’t fair”), you’ll learn to make room for hard emotions, rather than fighting or avoiding them, and stay grounded in the present. Research has shown promising results from ACT interventions among caregivers, including improved psychological flexibility and resilience.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): MBSR gives you the space to breathe. Through guided mindfulness practices and gentle movement, you’ll learn to slow down and become more aware of how stress shows up in your body and mind then respond to stress more calmly, rather than react on autopilot. Studies confirm MBSR can reduce caregiver anxiety and improve overall well-being.

Book Your Free Consultation

What to Expect In Therapy

Starting therapy might feel intimidating, especially when you’re already dealing with so much. At Cape Clarity, we aim to make sessions feel supportive, action-oriented, and focused on you.

The Initial Session

We’ll start with a longer first appointment (75 minutes) to get to know you better. We’ll discuss what you’re experiencing and the impact of it all on your daily life. You can share as much or as little as you like…the pace is yours. This time is also an opportunity to discuss your goals for therapy, such as sleeping better, improving mood, or having a safe outlet for your emotions. We’ll use your goals to create a plan together.

Collaborative Planning

Once we understand your needs and goals, we’ll create a plan tailored just for you. We use science-backed methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Your plan might include boundary-setting tools, responding to difficult thoughts with compassion, or making self-care commitments. We’ll check in regularly to adjust as needed, so you stay actively involved.

Ongoing Therapy Sessions

Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes and occur weekly, though we tailor the schedule and frequency to your needs. Some weeks might be about active strategies like problem-solving how to fit in a few hours for yourself; other times, we may also explore other areas like how your caregiving role has impacted your outlook on life. No matter the focus, your therapist will listen with care and help you learn new ways to cope, allowing a better balance between caring for a loved one and caring for yourself.

Portrait of Liana Preudhomme, PhD, Lead Psychologist at Cape Clarity Integrative Psychology in Cape Coral, Florida.

“Caregivers often carry so much without ever being asked how they’re really doing. In therapy, we create space just for you; to process, breathe, and reconnect with your own well-being while you support someone you love.”

– Dr. Liana Preudhomme, Founder of Cape Clarity Integrative Psychology

Why Cape Clarity?

Licensed psychologist with health psychology specialization

We specialize in the psychological challenges caregivers face, not just general mental health — including burnout, guilt, and role identity.

Licensed therapist based in Cape Coral

You’ll work with a licensed psychologist in your local region, someone familiar with Southwest Florida’s needs and realities.

Telehealth available across Florida

Wherever you live in Florida, you can access cancer counseling or therapy online.

About Dr. Preudhomme

Ready to take the next step?

If caring for someone with chronic illness has left you feeling stretched thin, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re in Cape Coral or anywhere in Florida via telehealth, Cape Clarity offers therapy tailored for caregivers.

Book your free consultation today and start creating space for yourself again.