The story about “not enough” comes up when loved ones suffer and we cannot fix it, or resources are limited, or the care recipient unloads frustration and embarrassment on us, or we’re burning out. It can seem unbearable and unsolvable. Drawing on Marshall Rosenberg’s compassionate Nonviolent Communication process (2015), we will investigate perspectives and tools to translate and transform these experiences. We’ll consider the impact of lost identities and hopes. Going beyond surface self-care efforts, we’ll identify underlying needs and imagine strategies to meet those needs more deeply, so we have the personal reserves to care for others.

Please bring a pen and paper to the webinar. Across the top of the page, summarize a low-level instance of caregiver guilt or resentment or “not enough-ness” using one sentence. This is for your own private practice. If there is time, the presenter may invite some examples, but you do not have to share.

Marion Little, MA Dispute Resolution, BA Linguistics, CNVC Certified Trainer, manages Community Services and Training for the John Howard Society of Peterborough, including conflict resolution, violence prevention, and communication skills programs for adults & youth. Marion has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in mediation and nonprofit management. She has also served as executive director for several social service agencies in BC.

Mieko Ise has been a caregiver to both her parents and in-laws for the past 10 years. It is Mieko’s intention to use her lived experiences to help other caregivers with their journeys and to be a catalyst for enhancing interactions between caregivers and healthcare professionals. Currently she is involved with the Ontario Caregiver Organization advising on the creation of new caregiver programs and services.