What can a geriatric therapist help with?
Therapists specializing in working with the geriatric population help clients navigate a variety of issues surrounding aging and end-of-life, including social isolation, dementia, sleep challenges, and grief. They can help improve senior mental health by helping clients find meaning in their life and navigate anxiety surrounding the aging process. Geriatric therapists may also work with client caregivers and family members to help support the aging individual, as well as work with medical doctors who may be managing a client’s physical health. Geriatric clients and their families should also consider whether they would like their counselor to possess more social worker-type qualities (e.g. to help connect them with assisted-living care, medical care, etc.), or if they would prefer a psychologist or therapist whose expertise lies more in the realm of counseling and psychotherapy.Why might someone seek a geriatric therapist?
There are multiple reasons why someone may seek a geriatric therapist, as they can be a source of social support as well as a trusted resource in navigating any anxiety, depression, or grief that may accompany the aging process. Geriatric therapists can offer shorter-term therapy for a specific life event or transition, such as the loss of a loved one, but they can also offer longer-term support for ongoing conditions, such as physical illness or social isolation. Therapists specializing in working with seniors are also often familiar with the medical conditions that come with aging, such as movement loss and dementia, and can thus offer support surrounding the physical components of the aging process as well.
What type of therapy might a geriatric counselor specialize in?
Geriatric counselors often provide a combination of supportive therapy and psychoeducation to clients. They specialize in the specific mental health conditions that are common among aging adults, such as anxiety surrounding end-of-life, depression, or low self-esteem. Therapists may utilize mindfulness practices or Cognitive Behavioral techniques to help clients manage and process their emotions surrounding the aging process. In many cases, geriatric counselors also offer psychoeducation to clients and their families, meaning that they help educate clients on various aspects of the aging process, including end-of-life decision-making and options for assisted living arrangements.
What are the qualities of a geriatric counselor?
Geriatric counselors, like mental health counselors in general, should be kind, empathetic, skilled at listening, and knowledgeable about their particular area of expertise. Counselors specializing in working with the senior population should be very familiar with the aging process in general and the common conditions that the elderly can face, such as dementia, depression, loneliness, and/or physical illness. Many geriatric counselors are also well-equipped to help caregivers and families navigate the aging process of their loved ones, and they may draw on Interpersonal Therapy to help facilitate improved interactions between seniors and those that care for them.