Dementia Support & Caregiver Therapy

Specialist psychological support for people affected by dementia, cognitive change, and the family members and carers supporting them.

Psychological therapy for dementia support or caregivers

A diagnosis of dementia, or changes in memory and thinking, can affect much more than cognitive abilities.

You may be trying to adjust to changes in confidence, independence or everyday routines while also wondering what the future might look like.

Or you may be supporting a partner, parent or other family member and finding that your relationship, responsibilities and everyday life are changing too.

Dementia can bring many different emotions. Anxiety, frustration, sadness, guilt, grief and uncertainty can exist alongside moments of connection, meaning and everyday life.

I am Dr Aaron Shaw, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, with professional experience supporting people affected by dementia and their families. Through Aaron Shaw Psychology, I provide independent psychological therapy focused on emotional wellbeing, adjustment and caregiver support.

Therapy can provide space to understand what you are experiencing, manage the emotional impact of change and find practical and sustainable ways of protecting wellbeing and maintaining what matters to you.

Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation

Living With Dementia or Cognitive Change

Dementia affects more than memory.

Changes in thinking and cognitive functioning can influence confidence, independence, relationships, routines and the way someone sees themselves.

For some people, receiving a diagnosis can provide answers after a period of uncertainty. At the same time, understanding what the diagnosis may mean can bring new questions and emotions.

You may experience:

Anxiety about your memory or the future
Reduced confidence in doing things independently
Frustration when things feel more difficult than they used to
Changes in concentration or attention
Low mood or withdrawal
Worry about becoming dependent on other people
Difficulty adjusting to changes in roles or routines
Concerns about how dementia may affect relationships

Psychological support provides an opportunity to explore these experiences while recognising the person beyond the diagnosis.

How Can Psychological Therapy Help?

Psychological therapy does not treat or reverse the underlying causes of dementia. It can, however, provide support with some of the emotional and practical challenges associated with living with cognitive change.

Depending on your individual circumstances, therapy may focus on:

Adjusting emotionally to a diagnosis or cognitive changes
Managing anxiety, frustration or low mood
Developing strategies for coping with changes in everyday life
Maintaining confidence and meaningful activity
Adapting routines and expectations
Exploring changes in identity or independence
Communicating your needs to people around you
Finding ways of continuing to live meaningfully alongside dementia

Support is adapted to your individual needs, strengths, circumstances and cognitive abilities.

Supporting Someone With Dementia

Supporting someone you care about can be meaningful while also being emotionally and practically demanding.

As dementia progresses, partners and family members can gradually find themselves taking on responsibilities that did not previously form part of their relationship.

You may be organising appointments, managing practical tasks, making difficult decisions or responding to changes in memory, behaviour or communication.

At the same time, you remain a partner, son, daughter, sibling or friend — not simply a "carer".

Managing these different roles can be emotionally complicated, and it is reasonable for your own wellbeing to form part of the conversation.

The Emotional Impact of Caring

There is no single "right" way to feel about supporting someone with dementia.

You may experience:

Emotional or physical exhaustion
Anxiety about the future
Frustration followed by guilt for feeling frustrated
Difficulty finding time for yourself
Changes within your relationship
Sadness or grief about things that have changed
Pressure to cope because other people depend on you
Difficulty balancing caring with work or family responsibilities
Feeling that your own needs have become less important

Experiencing difficult emotions does not mean that you care any less about the person you are supporting.

How Can Therapy Help Family Members and Carers?

Therapy provides a confidential space in which your experience and wellbeing can be considered too.

Rather than telling you how you should care for someone, we can explore the particular pressures you are experiencing and identify ways of responding that are realistic and sustainable.

This might include:

Managing stress and emotional overwhelm
Understanding your emotional responses to change
Working with guilt and self-criticism
Establishing realistic boundaries
Maintaining aspects of your own life and identity
Adjusting to changes within your relationship
Communicating with family members
Recognising signs of caregiver stress and burnout
Finding ways of attending to your wellbeing alongside caring responsibilities

The focus remains on your psychological needs and therapeutic goals.

Relevant Clinical Experience

My professional background includes experience working with people affected by dementia, cognitive difficulties and the psychological impact these can have on individuals and families.

This experience informs my understanding of issues such as adjustment to cognitive change, anxiety and low mood, changes in relationships and roles, caregiver stress, and the emotional impact of dementia.

Within Aaron Shaw Psychology, this experience is used specifically to inform independent psychological therapy and caregiver support.

Clear Separation From NHS Services

Aaron Shaw Psychology is an independent private practice and is entirely separate from my NHS employment.

Private therapy through Aaron Shaw Psychology does not provide access to, priority within, or influence over NHS assessment, diagnosis, treatment or other NHS services.

I do not use NHS clinical information, systems, facilities or referral pathways for my private practice.

Where I have an existing professional relationship with an individual through my NHS role, or where accepting someone privately could create an actual or perceived conflict of interest, I will not undertake the private work and will discuss appropriate alternative options where possible.

What This Service Does Not Provide

Dementia Support & Caregiver Therapy through Aaron Shaw Psychology is a psychological therapy and emotional wellbeing service.

It is not an alternative route into NHS dementia services and does not currently provide routine private dementia diagnosis.

If your primary concern is obtaining an assessment or diagnosis for possible dementia, you should seek an appropriate diagnostic service. If you are unsure what type of support you need, you are welcome to make an initial enquiry and I can clarify whether the services offered by Aaron Shaw Psychology are appropriate.

My Approach

There is no single psychological approach that will suit every person or family affected by dementia.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate and adapted to the individual's circumstances, abilities and therapeutic goals.

Depending on your needs, therapy may draw upon psychological formulation, psychoeducation, cognitive and behavioural strategies, compassion-focused approaches and practical strategies for adapting to cognitive change.

For family members and carers, therapy may also explore patterns of stress, responsibility, guilt and self-criticism alongside ways of protecting your own wellbeing.

The aim is not to tell you how you should cope with dementia, but to understand your experience and identify approaches that are genuinely helpful for you.

Dementia & Caregiver Support Near You

Independent psychological therapy and caregiver support are available through Aaron Shaw Psychology in:

Dementia & Caregiver Support Bristol

Dementia & Caregiver Support Cheltenham

Dementia & Caregiver Support Gloucester

Online appointments are also available across the UK, which may be particularly helpful when work, family or caring responsibilities make travelling to appointments difficult.

Flexible Appointment Availability

Face-to-face appointments are available on weekday evenings in Bristol and on Saturdays in Cheltenham.

Online appointments are also available across the UK, providing additional flexibility around work, family life and caring responsibilities.

Please get in touch to discuss current availability.

Taking the Next Step

You do not need to wait until caring feels unmanageable, or until emotional difficulties have reached crisis point, before seeking psychological support.

Whether you are adjusting to cognitive changes yourself or supporting someone you care about, an initial conversation can help us understand what you are experiencing and whether independent psychological therapy through Aaron Shaw Psychology may be appropriate.

If accepting the work would create a conflict with another professional role I hold, I will be transparent about this and will not offer private therapy in those circumstances.