Pain Connection has continued to add more state and specialized support groups over the past several months. There are seven new support groups starting in the next two months; four state-based support groups and three specialized support groups.

“These new support groups were created to help us reach even more people living with chronic pain,” says Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW, the founder and clinical director of Pain Connection. “All of these leaders have participated in our intensive training sessions and receive ongoing supervision. I would like to thank our group leaders for their dedicated efforts to help people all across the country find the support they need to manage chronic pain.”

New state groups include: 

• New Mexico: Second Monday of the month from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET; beginning July 12 
• California: Second Wednesday of the month from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET; beginning July 14
• Indiana: Second Wednesday of the month from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm ET; beginning July 14
• Colorado: Third Tuesday of the month from 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET; beginning July 20

New specialized groups include:

• The Writing Room: Second Monday of the month from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET; beginning July 12 
• Grupo de apoyo familiar de habla Hispana para el dolor crónico/Spanish Speaking Family Chronic Pain Support Group: Third Friday of the month from 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET; beginning July 16
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC): Third Monday of the month from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm ET; beginning August 16

The Writing Room 
The Writing Room will be a monthly meeting, providing a safe space for participants to explore their relationships with chronic pain and illness through various creative writing techniques. Writing is a therapeutic tool that will be used to release the pain and trauma associated with chronic conditions. No writing experience is necessary to participate.

The meeting is hosted by Millie Quiñones-Dunlap, a New York State certified teacher/librarian who is also a writer and spoken word artist. She has been living with chronic pain for sixteen years and uses writing as a way to explore her physical and emotional relationship with chronic pain. Ms.Quinones-Dunlap has been trained by U.S. Pain Foundation.

Grupo de apoyo familiar de habla Hispana para el dolor crónico/Spanish Speaking Family Chronic Pain Support Group
Este grupo de apoyo es para personas que cuidan o tienen familiares que sufren de dolor crónico. Este grupo está dirigido por José y Diana Núñez que han sido capacitados por la U.S. Pain Foundation.

This support group is for people who care for or have family members who are affected by chronic pain. This group is led by Jose and Diana Nuñez who have been trained by the U.S. Pain Foundation.

BIPOC Support Group
The BIPOC Support Group will be a monthly support group for individuals that identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The group will be led by LaSheila Yates and Linda Shaw, both individuals of color, who have been trained by U.S. Pain Foundation. 

To learn more about all our support groups, please visit PainConnection.org.