Support Groups sponsored by other organizations

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OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS (sponsored by other organizations)

Before attending a support group it’s advisable to call/email and confirm the meeting location, date and time since meeting information may not be up-to-date. It’s also advisable to attend more than one group so you can find one where you feel comfortable sharing. A support group is a safe, confidential place to share amongst like-minded people.

There may be some overlap between groups for Caregivers and Groups for Individuals living with the disorder because some groups combine and some groups have open meetings when spouses, family and friends can attend at certain times of the month so check both sections and please call.

Support Groups for Caregivers:

Husbands of Survivors of Sexual Violence Support Group. Draw from the collective strength and insights of other men who share your experience as the husband of a survivor. When Hopefully late October (TBD) Where Boston (TBD).Contact: Greg 617-730-2901 PTSDspousegroup@gmail.com or Bobby 617-694-5597ruttaro@gmail.com

Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL), Affiliated Parent Support Groups

“Jacob’s Mother”in Arlington offers a support group for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents. The group runs twice a month on the first and third Sunday nights from 7:00-8:30pm at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Parish of Arlington, 630 Mass Ave., corner of Pleasant Street (Rt 60). Parking is in the library lot. No childcare is available.

The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling Helpline offers information and support for people concerned about their own gambling or a loved one’s gambling. 1-800-426-1234

Greater Western and Central Massachusetts: Child & Family Service Of Pioneer Valley, Inc.: Parent Education and Support Group: Serving Springfield, West Springfield, Easthampton, Greenfield, Orange, Worcester and communities in western and central Massachusetts. Call Toll Free in Massachusetts: 1-800-232-0510. -Support group for parents of children under age 12 to assist them in with child development, limit setting, discipline and communication and more. Sliding fee and insurance accepted. Contact Donna Heap, LSW at (413) 737-4718

Gardner:Parent Support Groups at the Y.O.U. Inc Gardner Family Center www.youinc.org , Gardner, MA, has parent-directed support groups for parents of children with mental, behavioral, or emotional health care needs. Thursday mornings 10:00am – 11:30am, and Parents Helping Parents Support groups on Wednesday and Thursday Evenings, 6:00pm – 7:15pm.For more information, contact Kathy Hamelin @ 978-632-2321 ext 38 orhamelink@youinc.org.

Greater Marlborough Area: Assabet Valley Collaborative.www.avcollaborative.org. Provides supportive services to families with children from 0-5 years of age within eligible within the Collaborative’s region. Cathy Cummins, Executive Director/ccummins@assabet.org. 57 Orchard Street, Marlborough, MA 01752, 508-481-3611.

Greater Framingham Area: For parents of Children with Neurological and Brain Disorders: MetroWest Parent Support Group, 2^nd Monday of every month, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Tempo Young Adult Resource Center, 68 Henry Street, Framingham, Ma, 508-620-0010 ext. 308

North Shore Area Women’s Support Group: The Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport now offers a monthly group meeting for women who have family members with developmental disabilities. The meetings will both encourage networking with other mothers and have various speakers talk with the groups. Contact Kerry Mahoney The Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport kerry.mahoney@thearcofghn.org or call 978 373-0552 x 201

Think:Kids is a program in the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) which has its roots in what was originally known as The Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) Institute.Support Groups More Support Groups

Independent Parent Support Groups using Think: Kids model Mass. Support Groups (Word)

Foundation for Children with Behavioral Challenges, parent support groups:

Boston Parents Paper, Support Groups for Parents and Families in the Greater Boston Area (includes communities in Metro North/West, etc):

Parents Helping Parents support parents. Parent Support Groups meet weekly in many locations throughout Massachusetts. There is never a charge to attend a group.

Parent Support Group Thursdays, 10am – 11:30am (Or anytime in between) YOU, Inc., 205 School Street, Gardner. www.youinc.org

Wayside Youth and Family Support groups for Parents of Children with Mental Health and/or Behavioral issues Waltham: 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00pm -9:00pm at Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, 118 Central Street, Waltham MA 02453. For more information please call Judi Maguire, Parent Support Coordinator 781- 891-0556 x34 or email judi_maguire@waysideyouth.org.Framingham 2nd Monday of the month – 7:00pm-8:30pm 4th Monday of the month -10:00 am-11:30am at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, 88 Lincoln Street, Framingham MA 01702 For more information please call John Allen, Parent Support Coordinator (508) 620-0010 x 189 or email John_allen@waysideyouth.org

Grandparents responsible for their grandchildren living with them: http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Massachusetts%2008.pdf

Families Anonymous, which is a 12-step meeting for individuals whose lives have been adversely affected by a loved one’s abuse of drugs or alcohol

Parent Support Groups (with children addicted to substance abuse): http://www.neaar.org/moar/pdf/MOARguide07ParentSupp.pdf

A free support group for Parents who’s adolescent or your adult is struggling with substance abuse http://www.massgeneral.org/allpsych/ARMS/Parent%20Group%20Flyer.doc

Adult Children of Alcoholics, meetings in Mass: http://allone.com/12/aca/

Children & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation - Support Groups in Mass

Friends and Family Support (FFS) Conference Call, Each Tuesday, 7:00 PM Easter.n A chance to talk with others with similar experiences with friends and loved ones. You are not alone. Call-in: (888) 617-3400; Pass code: 1086548#, (Note: This is a Toll Free Number) SARDAA (Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America)

NSMC North Shore Children’s Hospital, Family Support Programs:http://nsmc.partners.org/cmsLibrary/documents/Programs%20FlyerMERdoc.pdf

Well Spouse Association offers a peer-to-peer support group for the spouses and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. Click here to locate a support group in your state

Caregiver Alliance of Suffolk County, support groups

Alzheimers Association, Massachusetts Chapter, support groups for caregivers

Support for Siblings of All Ages:

The Sibling Support Project is a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns. community-based peer support programs for young siblings; hosting workshops, listservs, and websites for young and adult siblings; and increasing parents’ and providers’ awareness of siblings’ unique, lifelong, and ever-changing concerns through workshops, websites, and written materials. Find a sibshop near you

SibNet is the Internet’s first and largest groups for adult brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental, and emotional needs.

Sibnet Facebook group for adult siblings

SibTeen Facebook group

SibTeen Yahoogroup

SibKids Yahoogroup

Connect with other adult sibs in your community

Support Groups for Individuals living with a disorder:

Support group for parents who suffer from depression, anxiety and/or mental illness meets at McLean Hospital , DeMarneffe Cafeteria, 115 Mill St. ,Belmont , Thursdays 6:30- 7:30pm. *Childcare will be provided at the meeting. Please contact Kathleen MacDonald kathleen@gomanagement.net to RSVP if you are going to be bringing your children.

Parent Peer Support group: Metro West Supported Housing, 340 Maple Street – 4th Floor, Marlborough. Time remains from 10:00-11:30. Call Chip Wilder, Director of Family Options to register at 508-485-5051, x240. This group meets weekly on Wednesday’s.

Vocational Support Group for Women, 4th Saturday of every month, 11am-12noo. Cambridge Women’s Center, 42 Pleasant St., Cambridge MA (near Central Sq.) www.cambridgewomenscenter.org Please join us for a group to give and receive support around where we are in our “vocational journey”. We will discuss ways we can discover, explore and honor our heart’s calling during times of unemployment and less satisfying work options. Please contact Sara Sternberg @sarastar4@gmail.com if you have any questions. This group is free, runs monthly, and there is no need to register.

Black Voices in Recovery is a peer-run support group for Blacks in recovery from mental health issues and addictions. We work to reach out to those in our communities who still suffer alone. Date/Time: Sunday July 24, August 14, September 18, 4:00pm-6:00pm Where: The Transformation Center, 98 Magazine St., Roxbury, MA 02119.

A New Support Goup for anyone who has been incarcerated or involved with the legal system and experiences mental health issues. Lead by trained peer facilitators. Regular meetings every Wednesday 2:30-3:30pm @ AISS, 736 State St., Springfield. Bilingual (English/Spanish) at most meetings. A collaboration between the Western Mass RLC the After Incarceration Support System Program & DMH.

GLBTQI Peer Support Meeting (lived experience with a mental health challenge) Thursdays from 7 to 8 pm, S.T.E.P.S., 12 Prescott Street in Arlington, MA 02474

Rainbow Support Group, Outer Boston/Metro Region & Southern Region.Rainbow Support Group Outside 128 loop & Southern Region, Time: 7-8:30 PM, Meets on the third Friday of every month, Location: 237 Highland Ave., Needham, MA (2nd Flr), Contact: Sandra Norlin – Riverside Community Care, Coordinator of South Region Rainbow Group, 1 Walpole Street, Suite 4, Norwood, MA 02062, 781-762-8539 , GLBT.RainbowSupport@gmail.com. The group’s purpose is to provide a safe and welcoming place for all who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning and those who support someone who is.

Young Adult Peer Support Group Mondays, 6 – 7 pm; Casa Dominicana, 160 Garden St., Lawrence. We are in the age range of 18-30. What kinds of issues do young people encounter in our lives? How can we support each other in recovery and personal growth? Please contact Karen Kieffer at the NERLC (The Northeast Recovery Learning Community) for more info. If you have questions, we can put you in touch with a local peer from the group. Call Karen at 978- 687-4288 x118 or kkieffer@nilp.org

Self-Injury

Self Mutilators Anonymous, an online fellowship of men and women who solve their common problem and help others to recover:

Self Injury Foundation, support groups

Eating Disorders

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders Support Groups: Please call us at 630-577-1330, or email us at anadgroup@anad.org

Eating Disorders, support groups

Overeaters Anonymous

Eating Disorders Anonymous, check to see if meetings in Mass, Yahoo groups, Phone meetings and Support line

National Eating Disorders Support Groups and Research Studies

Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous, meetings, scroll down to see if any in Mass

Multiservice Eating Disorders Association, supports groups in Mass

ADD/ADHD

ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association) Locate a ADD Support in your area, page down to Massachusetts (pages 10-11)

Children and Adults with AD/HD, Mass chapter

Adult ADHD Support Group in Central Massachusetts. Meetings are held on Wednesday at 7pm in the Banx Room at the Worcester Public Library, Worcester, MA 01608. If you would like further information, please call Jenna Knight at (508) 663-9732 or jenna@neverdefeatedcoaching.net

Addiction/Substance Misuse:

Nicotine Anonymous, meetings in Mass

Dual Recovery Anonymous, meetings in Mass

Dual Recovery meetings at Mass. Clubhouses

Dual Recovery Meeting: Sundays 11:00 – 12:00 noon, Metro Suburban Recovery Learning Community, 2^nd Floor (Main Entrance), 460 Quincy Ave., Quincy, MA 02169. For more information call 617-472-3237.

Adult Children of Alcoholics, meetings in Mass

Alcoholics Anonymous, meeting locator

Massachusetts Al-Anon/Alateen meetings

Smart Recovery, An alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous for recovery from addictions. Statewide meeting list. Phone: (781) 891-7574

Narcotics Anonymous, meeting locator

Cocaine Anonymous, meetings in Mass.(click on the word calendar to view meetings in the current month)

Cocaine Anonymous Family Group Email Meeting: http://www.co-anon.org/emeeting.html

Crystal Meth Anonmyous: Meetings in Mass

Depression and Bipolar Disorder:

Depression Bipolar Support Alliance, support groups in Mass:

Depressed anonymous, meetings in Mass

DBSA-Boston offers a variety of support groups for both people with affective disorders and their friends and families

DBSA Merrimack Valley meeting information for Lowell

Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety Disorders:Anxiety Support groups

Massachusetts Anxiety Support Groups

Social Anxiety Support Group:Join Sera and others from the community in this group intended for individuals who have difficulty with anxiety and being around others, particularly in groups.~ For the safety of the group, number of participants is limited to 6 and no one will beable to join the group more than five minutes after the designated start time.~ Groups will be held in a closed-door setting before regular open hours, and participants can stay after the group for open hours or leave prior to the arrival of other individuals.~ Groups will start with a quiet moment, followed by check-ins and the introduction of topics or open talk time. Light snacks will be provided.When: Fridays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Where: Holyoke RCC, 187 High St., Suite 303, Holyoke***Sign-up is encouraged due to the limited space.Call 413-539-5941, x203 with questions or to sign up

List of OCD support groups for children to adults with contact info in Massachusetts. (Click on the highlighted group for more information)

Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, support groups in Mass:

Clutterers Annonymous, Face to Face Meetings, scroll down the page to Massachusetts

Tourettes and OCD Support & Encouragement Group: Last Monday of the Month, 7:30 p.m., Ashland, MA Guest Speaker will be Susan Marakovitz, Ph.D., Project Director, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit. Goal of group is to provide parents and families with a venue to discuss the challenges and opportunities of raising a child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and/or Tourette’s Syndrome. For more information call 508-309-3072.

Tourettes Syndrome Association, Inc., Massachusetts Chapter

Autism Spectrum Disorders:

Asperger’s Association of New England Adult Support & Social Groups

Autism Society of America, Massachusetts Chapter

Schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia and Psychosis:Can’t find a local Schizophrenics Anonymous Group meeting to attend?Join the weekly Toll-free SA Conference Call Group.Meeting each Sunday at 7:00PM EST, Call-in: 888-617-3400; Pass code: 1086548# (Note: This is a Toll Free Number)

Hearing Voices Group – Every Tuesday, 4:30 to 6 PM at the Recovery Learning Center, 187 High St., Suite 303, Holyoke MA

Freedom Center Support Group, Northampton

The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) has launched Growing Pains, a new social networking site for young people with pain. Growing Pains is here to help young people connect with their peers who understand the effect pain has on their lives. Users can create journals, join discussions, and learn ways to manage pain. For legal reasons, this first launch is for ages 18+. We hope to be able to open the website to ages 13+ in the near future. In the mean time, increasing users is essential to understanding the impact of the site.

Non-specific disorder Support Groups

Support groups in the Northeast area offered by the Northeast Recovery Learning Community

DBT Peer Support Group: Join Melanie for this new peer support group based in learning about distress tolerance skills taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). ~ Melanie will guide individuals to explore how to better tolerate distress and difficult emotions using these skills. ~ No prior experience with DBT required! When: Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. (Cancelled on 11/27) Where: Holyoke RCC, 187 High St., Suite 303, Holyoke Advocates, Inc.,

Peer Support Group, Fridays 5-6 pm, 675 Main St., Waltham, MA.

Advocates, Inc., WRAP Support Group, every Wednesday 6:30-8:00 pm, 675 Main St., Waltham, MA.

Peer Support Group, every Tuesday, 4:30-5:30 pm, Waltham Clinic of the Edinburg Center, 169 Elm St. Waltham, MA, second floor conference room

Peer Support Meeting, Weekly Tuesdays, 7pm – 8pm, S.T.E.P.S., 12 Prescott St.,Arlington, MA 02474

Metro Suburban Recovery Learning Community – Framingham Site located within Advocates, Inc, 1181 Worcester Rd, Framingham is now open. Currently daily Peer Support Groups are scheduled in the Framingham area. For more information contact Aroldo Ferreira at 508-751-9600 or 508-596-5963

Peer Support Meetings – Schedule of Times and Locations

Monday at Panache Coffee, 680 Worcester Rd, Framingham	11 am – 12 pm
TuesdayAt Advocates, Room C, 1881 Worcester Rd, Framingham	3 pm – 4pm
WednesdayAt Espresso Paulo at Annie’s Book Stop, 774 Water St, Framingham	2 pm – 3 pm
Thursday At Advocates, Room C,1881 Worcester Rd, Framingham	6 pm – 7 pm
Friday Morse Institute Library, Room 2D, 14 East Central Street, Natick	3 pm – 4 pm