While caring for her mum, Nina began to feel overwhelmed. Through Carer Gateway Coaching, she found space to focus again on her own wellbeing and personal goals.
As an only child with no other family nearby, the responsibility for caring for her elderly mother rested entirely on Nina’s shoulders.
After her mother had surgery to remove a large tumour from her brain in September 2024, Nina quit her full-time job to care for her mum at home but soon found herself struggling.
“During the periods that Mum wasn’t in hospital, she lived fulltime with me and my partner. Soon I was completely exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed,” says Nina.
Through Carer Gateway’s facilitated coaching service, Nina connected with a compassionate carer coach who helped her develop strategies to manage stress, set boundaries, and regain a sense of balance in her life. She also received practical support which helped ease some of the pressures she was feeling of her caring role.
With Dimitra’s gentle guidance, a short course in sound bath healing led to another course in Pilates instructing, and in February 2026 Nina is opening her own pilates studio in Sunbury.
A fresh perspective through carer led coaching
Caring for a family member or friend can be a lonely and challenging experience, and often leaves people with little time or energy for themselves.
“Nina noticed that as she took on more caring responsibilities, the balance between caring for her mum and caring for herself shifted. She wanted to focus on her own wellness but was unsure where to start,” says Dimitra.
With support from Dimitra, Nina was able to find her own path again. That meant exploring further study and moving into a field that was meaningful for her: wellness.
“Dimitra listened to everything I needed to express. She gave me incredibly valid and personalised tools that I use to this day,” says Nina.
“I’m able to help myself using Dimitra’s words and processes of wisdom. She guided me on a journey to discover myself again.”
Dimitra says coaching is an effective way of supporting carers to identify and achieve their goals. She likes to use a driving metaphor to support carers to take control of their experience.
“Picture yourself in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Looking out through the windshield, the space ahead of you is what we refer to as the coaching space – where you’re currently sitting in life and then, identifying the things you want to move toward, and what does that journey involve?” says Dimitra.
“Coaching is very much about that space of looking ahead and moving towards the things you want in your life – and for each person that’s different.”
Whether you care for a family member or friend every day or just a few hours a week, you’re not alone. Carer Gateway offers free emotional, practical, and mental health support to help you, including coaching. Call 1800 422 727 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm) or visit our Carer Support page to find out more.
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