Sarah*, a nurse and single mother, reached out to the CCA Access Line feeling overwhelmed. She was caring for her ten-year-old son while relying on her elderly mother for child care. Her mother was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and would soon be undergoing treatment. Sarah reported feeling frightened about her mother's cancer and unclear about the prognosis.
Sarah suddenly faced two daunting realities: managing her mother’s care while also losing her primary source of child care. She admitted she wasn’t eating or sleeping well, and she felt overwhelmed about how she could hold everything together at work and at home.
Sarah's call was answered by one of our master ’s-level clinicians, who first offered validation and emotional support. The counselor normalized the stress she was experiencing and helped her identify immediate needs.
Together, they built a plan that addressed both her emotional health and her caregiving challenges. The counselor gathered details from Sarah (insurance coverage, counselor preferences, etc.) to locate a provider who could assist with her caretaking-related stress. Sarah expressed that she lived in a small town and was uncomfortable seeing a counselor who might be connected to her community.
From there, CCA mobilized resources to ensure Sarah had support on every front:
Within days, Sarah had multiple supports in place: professional counseling, practical caregiving resources, and new childcare solutions. Follow-up calls ensured she felt connected and reassured that help was only a phone call away.
For Sarah, the impact was immediate relief and a renewed ability to cope. For her employer, the outcome was an employee who could stabilize her home life, regain focus, and bring her full energy back to work.
* Names have been changed to protect member confidentiality.
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