You'd do anything for your loved one with dementia.

From the first day you realized something wasn’t quite right with your loved one, you’ve been doing your very best to make sure they are okay. Trying to understand what's happening to them. Putting them first, all the while coping with your own fear and sadness.

By throwing your heart and soul into this, you've...

Been to all the doctor's appointments, spent hours reading books and articles, joined support groups, and sent up about a million prayers.

Entered their new dementia world to do everything possible to make them feel safe, even though it's totally foreign to you, and found new levels of love and strength along the way.

Done so, so many things you never imagined doing.

But as their dementia progresses and the weight of caregiving grows heavier,

You worry that their disease is moving faster than you can keep up with.

You struggle with whether you're doing enough, second-guessing every decision.

You feel more isolated and alone, as friends who have always been there seem less and less available.

Your heart breaks over and over at the constant losses, big and small, and you've cried more than you ever thought possible.

Somewhere along the way, you’ve wondered how much longer you can handle this…

You’re doing your best, but you’re so very tired.

You feel overwhelming guilt for the times when you lose your temper or just wish it was over.

Your own health has been affected and your relationships are suffering.

You've unloaded to anyone who would listen, only to find they don't really get it. They even tell you your loved one is doing "so great" after a brief interaction, and you just want to scream.

Sometimes you even question whether God has left you to struggle on your own.

You know there are resources out there, information that could help you, but you're emotionally and physically spent. Just the thought of sorting through it all to find what you need exhausts you.

You've been in the online support groups, and they've been helpful, but it's been hard to make a deeper connection. And you'd love to have a professional you could ask your questions whenever they come up, but that's financially out of reach.

You worry you're going to break, and then who will take care of your loved one?

You feel exhausted and overwhelmed. You want reassurance that you're doing a good job at this. You would love to find time for some of that "self care" you keep hearing about, but that somehow seems impossible to come by.

You've always relied on your faith, but the weight of watching your loved one go through this has battered that connection, and you're not as tuned in to God's voice as you would like to be.

You're positive that if you could unload some of the mental weight you carry and get clear answers to the many questions that come up in the caregiving journey you could go beyond surviving dementia to thriving in spite of it.

If you could find freedom from some of the guilt and sadness, you could find mental space to focus on loving the person with dementia in a whole new way.

You crave connection with others who share your faith and get more deeply rooted in the peace God has for you, even amidst something as devastating as dementia.

Soul Harbor is a faith-based community to help those caring for loved ones with dementia go from feeling overwhelmed and lost at sea to feeling supported and connected.

Soul Harbor IS

A place to be encouraged and find joy amidst the struggle.
Information curated for you by a dementia professional, so you can stop the endless research.
A safe place to wrestle with difficult thoughts and feelings, so you can find peace.
A way to stop putting yourself last and to start taking care of YOU and your loved one.

Soul Harbor ISN'T

A place to simply vent without also looking for ways to grow or change.
Going to leave you alone to sort through mountains of information by yourself.
For arguing about specific beliefs or doctrine, or judging anyone's faith or journey.
Therapy.
A substitute for medical care or a case manager.

CONNECTION

You will belong to a community of believers who understand what you are going through. There will be opportunities to pray for each other, offer each other emotional support, and to draw on the collective wisdom of our members.

RESILIENCE

You will not only learn practical skills to help you get through the day-to-day experience of caring for someone with dementia, but you will learn how to nurture your own mind, heart, and spirit to make it through this journey well.

COMFORT

You will be encouraged in your faith at every step, to draw on God's promises as our ultimate comforter. Weekly times of prayer and praise, and inspirational verses and a community devotional will keep us connected to God.

SUPPORT

Beyond the community support, you will receive live support from me, a geropsychologist specializing in dementia, where you can ask any question about any situation that you're dealing with.

CONFIDENCE

You will gain knowledge related to dementia to be able to care for your loved one and yourself more effectively. You'll learn to feel secure that at every moment you are doing your very best.

PEACE

You will be able to put down the guilt and find peace in the journey. Finding ways to tap into the joy God means for you to have despite the pain of difficult circumstances will transform your experience as a caregiver.

I'll take the Monthly Plan!

The Annual Plan sounds perfect!

Once a week, we meet together for a 90-minute group video session for support related to life as a dementia caregiver.

Twice a month, a one-on-one coaching call is broadcast to the group for everyone's benefit.

Members will have exclusive access to courses & educational content.

Get comfort and emotional support from your peers who understand the pain and struggle of what you're going through.

Find opportunities to partner up in prayer and make meaningful connections with other members.

Support each other in prayer by sharing prayer requests and items of praise in set weekly times.

Be encouraged and connect to the Word through weekly verses and a community devotional.

Find room to wrestle with the harder questions of faith and explore doubts in the community chat or in the weekly Q&A time with me.

Sign me up for the Monthly Plan

Sign me up for the Annual Plan

Hi. I'm Dr. Lisa K. Baker and I'm so glad you're here.

I’m a seminary-trained licensed clinical geropsychologist, but you might also call me a caregiver for caregivers, a dementia whisperer, or even just a safe place to land on a heavy day.

I help family members and caregivers who are doing their very best while walking the hard road of dementia with a loved one, but are finding themselves overwhelmed by the practical and emotional burdens. I teach specific skills and techniques for communication, for managing difficult behaviors, for connecting with your loved one, so that you can both have a better life. It’s equally important to address the grief, the pain, the fear, the daily emotional roller coaster, and your spiritual needs so that you can find more of the joy, and not feel like you’re running on fumes.

I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to feel alone in your struggle, to be burned to the bottom of your reserves, but to feel like you have to keep going, that there is no other choice...and because you love them so much, you wouldn’t make another choice. But it doesn’t mean this isn’t hard, and sometimes downright impossible. I see you, what you’re really going through, what you’re giving, and what it’s costing you.

I can offer a way through.

Those I work with appreciate that I bring my whole heart and soul to my work. They know that I get it, that I do my best to put myself in their shoes, and to come alongside them and help them find their way. They know nothing is off-limits, no thought or feeling will be judged, that this is a safe place to get it all out. And they know I love Jesus more than anything and believe God is with us in every battle.

I believe that cared for caregivers, armed with skills and knowledge, with their emotional and spiritual tanks full, can turn the experience of dementia on its head.

SOUL HARBOR IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU IF:

You're tired of feeling guilty for not doing enough and worried you're not doing the right things.
You're craving meaningful connection in your support community, that feeds both your emotional and spiritual needs.
You want to deepen your faith and find ways to grow closer to God through these struggles, even if you doubt him at times or feel angry with your situation.
You're ready for a deeper understanding of what's happening in your loved one's brain and how to best communicate with them.
You struggle to find time to take care of yourself.

SOUL HARBOR IS NOT THE BEST FIT FOR YOU IF:

You aren't ready to make changes to your thoughts and behaviors and learn new ways of doing things.
You think the person with dementia is the one that really needs to make changes.
Being in a Christian community would in any way be a negative experience for you.
You're primarily looking for advice about medications, diet, supplements, or drug trials. For this, I would refer you to your loved one's medical providers.
You're primarily looking for information about financial, legal, or housing matters. For this, I would refer you to a geriatric case manager.

The combo of online + fellow caregivers + faith + doctor-led = a lovely spot of nourishment for my spirit. Less expensive than therapy and, in some ways, more beneficial, Soul Harbor is part of my self-care during this confusing, bittersweet time. Thanks to Dr. Baker and the members of this precious group, I’m deepening my awareness of what I can (and can't) control, reframing some of the harsh realities, and embracing this “and/both” season.

I used to get so stressed trying to make it to my group meetings and once a month meetings were never enough. Soul Harbor is just a click away any time I need it. I look forward to the weekly meetings (jammies are acceptable!) and love how we are able to share laughter, ideas, and tears. Soul Harbor has become my safe zone. Although we are all in different places and stages of our caregiving journey our group has become close in a way I never envisioned. It truly is a port in the storm. It is by far, the best self care decision I have made thus far!

I can't express how much this group means to me, everyone's mutual support is so beneficial and the ability to do it face to face is such an added benefit. Dr. Baker's compassion, love, and knowledge of all things related to caregiving and coping with the daily stress of doing so with someone having dementia is a treasure. I truly feel like there was divine intervention that directed me to Soul Harbor.

Sign me up for the Monthly Plan

Sign me up for the Annual Plan

How is this different than the free Facebook support groups?

Our community will have face to face contact with me and other caregivers, for a deeper connection. You have direct access so you can get answers tailored to your exact situation. You will also be encouraged to grow in your faith here.

How is this different from therapy?

We will be working from a coaching framework which is future-focused and includes developing practical skills, identifying and removing obstacles, and addressing mindset. Therapy often involves focusing on the past, and healing old traumas and hurts.

What if I can’t make it to live calls or Q&A sessions?

Caregiving life can get chaotic! All group sessions and coaching calls will be recorded and archived, so if you can’t make it, you can watch when you’re ready. You can also submit questions ahead of time.

How can I get access to 1:1 coaching?

Members with an annual membership are guaranteed at least one 1:1 coaching slot. Monthly membership holders can also apply for 1:1 coaching, but will be assigned on an as-available basis.

What if I want to cancel my membership?

You can cancel your membership at any time, and your access will end at 11:59pm EST of the last day you have paid for. No refunds are given.

What is the benefit of joining now?

The community is still in its early stages, so there is plenty of opportunity for you to give input to shape the experience to meet your needs. You will receive more direct access to me and experience a more intimate community. Additionally, your membership price will be locked in. The price will go up for new members down the road, but never for you.

How many people will be in the group?

My dream is to be able to help as many caregivers as possible. But I also want to preserve a sense of intimacy and will always prioritize connection in the group. So as the group grows, we will also have room to grow into subgroups, based on dementia diagnosis, season of life, relationship to the loved one with dementia, living situation, etc. The more of us there are, the greater the resource we’ll have to draw from.

What if I’m too overwhelmed to participate?

Though it is often helpful to be around people who are experiencing the same things you are, sometimes it just becomes too much. For this reason, all Q&A sessions and coaching calls will be recorded and archived, so that they are available when you are ready. You’ll be able to submit questions for even if you can’t attend the call. You are advised to step back from the community discussion whenever you feel like you need a break. Self-care is a top priority here!