Navigating Dementia and Brain Changes: A Clinician’s Guide to Caregiver Support with Michelle Zipser, LMSW
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Episode Summary: In this deeply compassionate and clinically rich episode, host Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW is joined by Michelle Zipser, LMSW—a seasoned therapist with over 22 years of experience supporting individuals and families impacted by dementia and life transitions related to brain changes.
Michelle shares her insights from years in hospice and palliative care and her private practice, where she works closely with care partners navigating the emotional, psychological, and logistical toll of supporting a loved one with dementia.
Together, we explore the challenges of ambiguous loss, caregiver identity shifts, compassion fatigue, and the trauma-informed clinical strategies therapists can use to support clients in these roles with empathy, nuance, and evidence-informed care.
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Topics Covered:
- Common emotional and psychological challenges caregivers face, including grief, guilt, anger, and exhaustion
- How ambiguous loss and identity shifts impact care partners over time
- The difference between “caregiver” and “care partner” language—and why it matters
- Strategies to support caregiver resilience, including mindfulness, EMDR, psychoeducation, and ritual
- When—and how—to help caregivers explore boundaries, role expectations, and even the choice to say no
- Systemic barriers to dementia care and the importance of clinician advocacy
- How to bring a person-centered, trauma-informed lens to dementia work in therapy
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Resources:
- Duet: Partners in Health & Aging
Free support groups, resources, and counseling for family caregivers, including those supporting loved ones with dementia.
Website: https://duetaz.org/family-caregivers - Barrow Neurological Institute – Alzheimer’s & Memory Disorders Program
Offers diagnostic care, educational materials, and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other memory disorders, as well as their care partners.
Website: https://www.barrowneuro.org/centers-programs/alzheimers-and-memory-disorders - Lisa Miller, Ph.D.
Researcher and clinical psychologist specializing in the connection between spirituality and depression; author of The Awakened Brain.
Website: https://www.lisamillerphd.com
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About Our Guest: Michelle is a therapist, educator, and consultant with over two decades of experience supporting individuals and families through dementia and life transitions. She spent nearly 20 years as a medical social worker at Hospice of the Valley before opening her private practice. Michelle brings deep empathy, advocacy, and insight to her work with care partners and older adults facing brain changes and cognitive decline.
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Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. There are no other conflicts of interest to disclose.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional.
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