Zeynep is a dedicated doctor in her mid-forties, known for her calm presence and unwavering commitment to her patients. What most people didn’t see, however, was what she carried at home: she was the primary carer for her mother, whose dementia had slowly become part of every hour of Zeynep’s life.
Between medical responsibilities and the emotional weight of caring for a loved one, Zeynep had reached a point of exhaustion she could no longer name. She wasn’t looking for clinical supervision. She wasn’t looking for therapy either.
She simply needed a quiet, neutral space where she could breathe again, reflect, and make sense of everything she was holding.
That’s when she reached out for Reflective Case Consultation.
What we worked on together
In our sessions, Zeynep explored both her professional and personal worlds – not through formal techniques, but through gentle reflection, therapeutic art, and creative exercises that helped her connect with emotions she had been putting aside for far too long.
Some elements that proved especially helpful for her included:
- Watercolours for Emotional Clarity: Using fluid, intuitive watercolour exercises, Zeynep found a way to express emotions that felt too overwhelming or complex to articulate. The softness and unpredictability of the medium helped her release tension and discover feelings beneath the surface.
- Collaging for Perspective and Boundaries: Through simple collage work using images, textures and colours, she explored the different “roles” she held – doctor, daughter, carer, problem-solver – and reflected on how they overlapped or competed for her energy. This visual separation helped her recognise what truly belonged to her, and what she had been carrying on behalf of others.
- Photography-based Reflection: Using photos from her daily life, Zeynep began noticing small moments of calm and meaning she had previously rushed past. These images became anchors that helped her stay connected to herself.
- Meaning-centred Conversation: Together, we explored the values behind her caregiving – compassion, responsibility, dignity – as well as the emotional cost of living those values without support.
- Mindfulness-informed Creative Exercises: These helped her slow down, reconnect with her senses and step out of the constant state of alert she had been living in.
What changed for Zeynep
Over several sessions, Zeynep began to notice gentle but powerful shifts:
- She experienced emotional relief she hadn’t felt in months.
- She felt less alone in her caregiving – “finally seen”, as she said.
- She discovered small, sustainable ways to protect her energy at work and at home.
- She reconnected with the parts of herself that existed beyond responsibility.
- She learned to extend compassion to herself, not only to others.
One afternoon, she said quietly: “For the first time in years, I can feel where I am in all of this.”
How Reflective Case Consultation can support you
Zeynep’s story is just one example of how reflective, creative conversations can support people who care deeply – for their clients, their patients, their families or all of the above.
Whether you work in a helping profession or are caring for someone in your personal life, these sessions offer a space to explore:
- the emotional load you carry
- the tension between responsibility and exhaustion
- the blurring of roles and identities
- the pressure to stay strong for everyone else
- the wish to care without losing yourself
Each consultation is tailored to you, drawing from therapeutic art, photography, narrative reflection and mindful, grounded conversation.
Start with a Compass Session
If you’re curious whether Reflective Case Consultation is the right support for you, you can begin with a single Compass Session: 30 minutes for €50, 60 minutes for €100.