Finding Support in the Brain Injury Community

This marriage and family therapist talks about common issues after TBI.

Posted on BrainLine April 29, 2009. Reviewed January 16, 2018.
Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King.

About the author: Caron Gan, RN

Caron Gan is an Advanced Practice Nurse, Registered Psychotherapist, and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist with the Ontario and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). She has worked with clients with brain injury, providing psychotherapeutic intervention to youth, adults, couples, and families.

Caron Gan, Advanced Practice Nurse, Registered Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist

Comments (19)

Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

I survived a serious Tbilisi when I was younger, and now that I’m in my 50’s I am having a lot of issues. I have no assistance and I need some input & support. Is there a good support group in my area—Phoenix, AZ??

I lived in Phoenix in 2015 and 2016. I found many support groups there. Talk with the Brain Injury Association of Arizona. There was a monthly meeting of BIAA at the one hospital.

I’m in Ontario canada and definitely need a support group and new therapist and team

I am a TBI survivor. The invisible injury. I have lost everything and I look like I have not changed, yet EVERYTHING has changed. I would love to start a support group. I worked in the cosmetic surgery industry for 25 years helping individuals feel better about themselves in a superficial way. Today I want to help others, including myself achieve a new purpose and identity. To feel better about ourselves in a more significant way. How can I be of service?

I don't know what you are capable of..I am going through the discovery stage of my disability. I'm depressed..

I am a TBI survivor who also lost everything. i feel like i would have been better off killed in the crash. They expect you to lose everything and wait years for a settlement.

My name is Shana Gross and I am desperately looking for a support group in the Bay Area of Northern California. I acquired my traumatic brain injury on March 29th, 2016. I need help accepting and dealing with the results of my injury.

I do also. I live in Northern California and have no support. It's overwhelming sometimes..

I had a TBI, and I just moved to
San Jose. I am staying at City Team men's shelter. I neep help and I do ñot know where to go. Please help me, I am just independent enough to be a danger to myself. Please help me

Am from south Africa and my baby experience brain damage I'm looking for a support group in Mpumalanga

I had a brain aneurysm and stroke when I was 23 I bled on my brain for 36 hours I had to learn to walk again I don’t think I’ll ever be the same the day I got out of the hospital my boyfriend at the time who was abusive raped my in a place I had never been sexually active before I broke up with him after but between the brain trauma and abusive relationship the hitting cheating raping and brain trauma I could really use some support a couple months after I broke up with him I tried to talk to him about what he did to me during such a vulnerable time i needed closure he took out a gun and started to wave it around screaming is this what u want I took the gun from him and put it to my head I said u don’t have the balls and pulled the trigger he pushed it away just in time I can still remember the ringing in my ears post traumatic stress can make u do some crazy things anyways I held on to this toxicity for long enough and need help moving on

My name is Latifah And I am urgently looking for a support group in Chicago, Illinois. Thanks

My neurologist stated that I have trauma brain injury due to abused from birth to adulthood. She said that my frontal lobe and back of my brain is injury. I also have PTSD. Does it mean that I have TBI related to trauma? My MRI was normal until a year ago in which my brain started to shrink. Plus my health changes so much since 2017. Is that normal with what i have? I am not seeking medical advice but it seems like you are well knowledge.

Was just looking for maybe a small support group in my area to talk with because it has been a while after my TBI, but just maybe talking to people who understand more than most might help with my depression. Maybe help me think of a direction to head in.

Looking for support group in the Cleveland, Seven Hills, ohio area

I am 21 and looking for a support group for people around my age or any age really that have had a TBI that is close to my location

Can you give any information for reputable support groups for adult women in Michigan?

I am looking for a speech therapist and support group for a 27 year old who suffered a TBI 5 years ago.

We live in San Jose, California, our zip code is 95125.

Hi Kathy, Have you tried any of the San Jose groups listed on BIA CA's website? biacal.org