Outside The Therapy Room

Episode 52 - Caregiving Through the Holidays: Managing Grief & Burnout with Stephanie Muskat

Ivonne Hammoud Season 2 Episode 52

The holidays are often painted as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for caregivers, this season can bring an entirely different emotional landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Muskat, a therapist who specializes in caregiver mental health, to unpack the complex layers of supporting a loved one with dementia,  Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), or other health challenges during the holiday season.

Together, we explore the emotional weight of caregiving, the pressure to create a “perfect” holiday, the resurfacing of grief, and the exhaustion that comes from trying to hold everything together. 

You’ll hear insights on navigating anticipatory grief, setting boundaries, managing burnout, and finding small, meaningful moments even when traditions change. Most importantly, this episode offers validation, compassion, and practical support for anyone feeling stretched thin or unseen during the holidays.

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Compassion in Caregiving

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