NATIONAL CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUPS
Note: For mobile users, please scroll down past the calendar to find registration info for all upcoming national support groups.
CHRONIC PAIN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP: FIRST THURSDAYS
CHRONIC PAIN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP: SECOND THURSDAYS
CHRONIC PAIN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP: THIRD THURSDAYS
CHRONIC PAIN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP: FOURTH THURSDAYS
CHRONIC PAIN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP: LAST SATURDAY
This Month’s Theme:
Pacing to Manage Chronic Pain
Pacing is a great tool to manage activities without overdoing it. This includes taking a break before you absolutely need it, which can reduce pain flare-ups.
Keys to Pacing Graphic By Christie Cox, Author of Holding it Together When You’re Hypermobile…
Potential Discussion Questions>>
Making the Invisible Visible: Chronic Pain Manual – Buy the book
ABOUT PAIN CONNECTION SUPPORT GROUPS
Pain Connection Live calls are now taking place as Zoom meetings!
Chronic pain can make it difficult to leave the house, even when you need support and community. That’s why we offer weekly support groups held via Zoom videoconference. These groups are available to anyone with chronic pain!
The meetings involve guided discussion led by individuals who have received specialized support group training from Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW. Group leaders all have personal experience with living with pain.
Chronic pain support group meetings typically relate to a monthly theme or topic; you can read more about this month’s theme above.
Registration is required via the calendar. Once you complete registration, you’ll receive an email confirmation with details about how to join.
Community
Support
Education
Hope
Meet the leaders
Mary Beth Lewis
Mary Beth received her master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Purdue University. She worked in training and communications for seven years. In 2002, she developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after an ankle surgery. For six years, she volunteered as tutor for an English for Speakers of Other Languages. In 2017, Mary Beth received support group leader training through Pain Connection and led a support group in Maryland for a year before moving to Texas. Now serving as the Pain Connection Live group coordinator, she supports the Pain Connection website and leads one call per month. In 2020, she moved to Ohio where she currently resides with her husband. They have two sons in college and a goofy little dog at home.
Bobbi Blades
With a B.S. in Education, Bobbi has worked in education, electronics/high tech, and health and human services. She and her husband lived and worked in Europe, backpacking there and in the Far East before settling in New Hampshire. While caring for aging parents and raising their son, Bobbi facilitated a free support group for caregivers for 12 years and received a Spirit of NH Award for volunteering with homeless families. Bobbi has pain from rheumatoid arthritis, spondylolisthesis, herniated discs and digestive issues. Her pain doctor encouraged her to attend support group leader training with Pain Connection in 2017. Currently, Bobbi facilitates a NH support group, assists Pain Connection with virtual support groups, and volunteers with VNA Hospice. She helped form the NH Pain Collaborative and attends Don’t Punish Pain rallies. She recently received a U.S. Pain Advocacy Award.
Gwenn Herman
Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW, is founder and clinical director of Pain Connection, She created the organization in 1999 following a motor vehicle accident that left her with unrelenting pain. In 2016, Pain Connection joined forces with U.S. Pain Foundation and has continued to expand its offerings nationwide.
Over the years, Gwenn has become a leading voice in the chronic pain community. She has been featured in various media outlets on the topic of pain, and in 2009, co-authored the book, Making the Invisible Visible: Chronic Pain Manual for Health Care Providers.
In 2018, Gwenn was appointed to the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, the highest-ranking pain policy oversight committee in the country. She also recently received a grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation.
Gwenn currently lives in Arizona with her husband, Malcolm, and has a private psychotherapy practice in Tucson.
Ryan Drozd
Ryan Drozd has been coping with chronic upper, lower, mid back, and neck pain for a decade. He is a Certified Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine as well as an LMT and RYT-200.
In 2019, Ryan attended a support group leader training with Pain Connection. Currently, Ryan facilitates a national support group meeting on the third Thursday of every month.
Ryan is honored to share his personal experiences with others seeking options outside of mainstream medicine. His interest and knowledge in alternative modalities stems from living with undiagnosed chronic pain for years. He loves socializing, reading, writing, playing cards or board games, and spending time in nature.