Woman’s role as caretaker: 
BURDEN OR BLESSING?

A facilitated support group to alleviate compassion fatigue

• Are you in a helping profession?
• Do you expend a great deal of your life energy taking care of
• needy clients, children, your spouse and/or aging parents?
• Are you routinely too busy or exhausted to tend to your own interests, needs and passions?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you may be experiencing

Compassion Fatigue 

Many women find fulfillment in nurturing roles, yet feel conflicted because they have less and less time available to follow their own dreams while still providing quality care to their family and/or clients.   

Sometimes it helps to have a listening ear.   

If your current life situation calls you into a Caretaking role, this unique group for women will offer you a safe place to attend to your own needs.   Here you will be offered periods of silence in a sacred space to give witness to your inner world.  Here you will be free to walk full circle around the paradoxical nature of the caretaking role.  Here you can give voice to the terrible beauty inherent in caregiving:  the moments of anger and despair interspersed with peace, wonder and Grace.  Together we will nurture and empower ourselves and each other via discussion of boundary setting, self-care and transcending co-dependency.   

Group gathers on the Third Friday of the Month, 2:00-3:30 p.m. beginning September 21, 2007.   Fee:  $65 per session.  Drop in when you can but pre-registration required.  To register: send $15.00 (to be applied to your first class) to Mary Lou Schneider, 429 Brooktree Drive, Ballwin, MO 63011.  Contact marylouises@charter.net, 636-227-9911. 

Facilitator Mary Lou Schneider is an experienced spiritual director and “anamchara” (soul friend) who has over twenty years experience facilitating small groups and retreats for women.  For more information about Mary Lou go to www.marylouschneider.com