Support
groups are integral parts of the Brian Injury Association of
Georgia’s (BIAG) efforts to assist survivors of brain injury, their
families and friends. A support group’s most important function is
to provide a safe environment for its members, in which there is a
sharing of mutual emotional support. The support group is based on
the belief that acceptance by and connections with others is
critical in the healing process from trauma. Members can be
survivors, family members, friends and professional providers.
The
benefits of a brain injury support group are numerous and can
include the following:
-
Emotional healing comes through interpersonal contact
-
Sharing of similar experiences helps members feel less isolated
and more empowered to deal with daily challenges
-
Encouragement develops from learning about the achievements of
others that have overcome similar difficulties
-
Contribution helps support group members feel useful and gives
meaning to their lives
-
Education results from the exchange of information and personal
experiences
-
Socialization establishes and maintains important connections with
people and enhances confidence in social skills
-
Self-expression, as emotions are experienced and released, creates
a greater understanding of oneself and one's capabilities
-
Confidence building results as members self-direct the support
group and work on the problems they all have in common
-
Safety, in the context of a confidential, supportive,
non-judgmental environment, allows for honest self-expression and
confidence building
-
A Sense of Growth occurs as long-term members see new participants
and reminisce about where they began and how far they have come in
their personal journey
SUPPORT GROUPS
(Listed By County):
BIBB COUNTY
Macon
Macon Support Group
Central Georgia Rehab Hospital
3351 Northside Dr.
Macon, GA 31210
Meetings held: Every 3rd Tuesday @ 6:00 P.M
Bring a dish to share and we eat first!
Contact: Dr. Foster, Group Leader
Phyllis Dorn (478) 960-2804
phyllisdorn@bellsouth.net
CHATHAM COUNTY
Savannah
Savannah “Second Chance”
Goodwill Industries
7220 Sallie Mood Dr.
Savannah, GA 31407
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Thursday 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Contact: George Maust (912) 927-7301
Carla Johnson (912) 354-6611 x133
cjohnson@goodwillsavannah.org
Lyndsey Rich (912) 354-6611 x133
P.O. Box 15007
Savannah, GA 31416
CLARKE COUNTY
Athens
Athens Regional Medical Center
Medical Services Building
Prince Ave.
Athens, GA 30606
(Behind the hospital; Near the Physician’s Imaging Center.
On the
3rd Floor; Classroom D)
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Monday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Floretta Johnson
415 Washington Dr.
Athens, GA 30601
Home (706) 353-1892
Work (706) 389-3550
Janice and Les Ward
(706) 548-4397
Billy Geiger
(770) 867-1356 (Call after noon only)
scalemodeler@alltel.net
CLAYTON COUNTY
Riverdale
Miracles Happen
Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale, GA 30274
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Pat Buice (770) 473-7471
superhope@msn.com
COBB COUNTY
Marietta
Unlimited Possibilities
Kennestone Hospital
Outpatient Rehab Center
100 Lacy St.
Marietta, GA 30060
Meetings Held: Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday @ 7 P.M.
Contact:
Doreen Davey - (770)974-7866
dorrend@mindspring.com
Laura Coomes (770) 924-7509
lauracoomes@bellsouth.net
supportgroup@mindspring.com
DEKALB COUNTY
Atlanta/Emory
Center for Rehab Medicine
1441 Clifton Road
Room 101
Atlanta, GA 30030
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Tuesday @ 6:30 P.M.
Contact: Dr. Louise Cording (404) 371-0497
lcording@minspring.com
Atlanta/VA Hospital
VA/TBI Support Group
VA Medical Center
Speech Pathology Dept.
1610 Clifton Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Contact:
Dr. Inge Thomas (404) 329-4654
Inge.Thomas@med.va.gov
Decatur/Atlanta
Shepherd Pathways – Survivor & Caregiver
1942 Clairmont Rd.
Decatur, GA 30033
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Thursday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Susanna Rains (404) 603-1476
Susanna_raines@shepherd.org
Nancy Miller
Nancy_miller@shepherd.org
Alan Roof
Alan_roof@shepherd.org
DOUGHERTY COUNTY
Albany
Ryan’s Steakhouse
1224 N. Westover Blvd.
Albany, GA 31707
Meetings Held: Every 1st Tuesday @ 6:45 P.M.
Contact: Tom Connelly (229) 883-3911
Tom.Connelly@aol.state.ga.us
FANNIN COUNTY
Blue Ridge
First Methodist Church of Blue Ridge/Community Bank
Blue Ridge, GA 03513
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Carolyn Steep (706) 492-5308
2116 Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
FLOYD COUNTY
Rome
Floyd Behavioral Health
Windwood main level conference room
306 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Thursday @ 6 P.M.
Contact: Kathy Adams (706) 291-0168
Linda Studard (706) 509-6623
lstudard@floyd.ord
FULTON COUNTY
ATLANTA
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish
Rite
Inpatient Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU)
1001 Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
Two
Groups: One for parents; one for children and adolescents
Meetings
held 1st Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Contact: Carol Mallon, Group Leader (404) 785-4452
Carol.mallon@choa.org
ATLANTA/BUCKHEAD
Minor Brain Injury Support Group
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Thursday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Jean Kropa (770) 612-0612
Kropa@bellsouth.net
Jacques
and Monique Haust
(770) 663-8320
Fax: (770) 663-8017
jhausscappelle@aol.com
ROSWELL
North Fulton Regional Hospital
Medical Office Building
2500 Hospital Blvd.
Roswell, GA 30076
4
Support Groups:
-
Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Support Group 1st Tues. 1 PM in
Suite 100
-
Stroke
Support Group 2nd Tuesday 1 P.M. in Suite 100
-
Family
Support Group (TBI-CVA) 3rd Tuesday 6:45 P.M. in Suite 400
-
TBI
Support Group 4th Tuesday 1 P.M. in Suite 100
Contact: Stuart Hanzman (770) 642-4236 X41
Annie Boriskie
annie12549@aol.com
Seminole Spirits:
A Speech Language Support Group
North Brook Methodist Church House
50 Houze Way Rd
Roswell, GA 30075
Meetings Held: Every Other Thursday 1 - 2 P.M. (Bring your own
lunch)
Contact: Mark Halvorsen (404) 434-7452
Seekinmotion2005@yahoo.com
GWINNETT COUNTY
Lawrenceville
First United Methodist Church
395 W. Crogan St.
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Dennis Stahl (770) 965-9426
stahldennis@bellsouth.net
MUSCOGEE COUNTY
Columbus
Columbus Area Brain Injury Support Group
Columbus Med. Conf. Center
710 Center St.
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday @ 6:30 P.M.
Contact: Kay McCoy
Home (706) 565-9298
Cell (706) 325-2386
kaymccoy@hotmail.com
Shiloh Hendricks (706) 507-4696
Shiloh93@knology.net
NEWTON/ROCKDALE COUNTIES
Conyers
Conyers Presbyterian Church
911 N. Main St.
Conyers, GA 30012
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Monday @ 7 PM
Contact: Tom Houchins (404) 316-3193
hthouchins@yahoo.com
RICHMOND COUNTY
Augusta
The Brain Injury Support Group
Walton West
2501 Center West Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Thursday @ 6 P.M.
Contact: Patty Goolsby (706) 829-0370
pattyg@wrh.org
SPALDING COUNTY
Griffin
Lost and Found Support Group
Griffin Technical College Cafeteria
58 Holly Lane
Griffin, GA 30223
Meetings Held: Every 1st Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Mark & Sharon Huey (770) 233-1660
sharonhuey@bellsouth.net
WARE COUNTY
Waycross
Southeast Georgia Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group
Satilla Regional Medical Center
Satilla Annex Classroom
410 Darling Ave.
Waycross, GA 31501
Meetings Held: Every 3rd Mondays @ 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Debra Gordon (912) 285-7994
debrag@wayxcable.com
SUPPORT GROUPS FOR MILD BRAIN INJURY
(Listed By County):
CATOOSA COUNTY
Fort Oglethorpe
Jimmy Simpson Foundation Group
Ft. Oglethorpe United Methodist Church
1733 Battlefield Pkwy
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Meetings Held: Every 2nd Tuesday @ 6:00 P.M.
Contact: Kim Goodwin (706) 375-9520
Kim_goodwin@mindspring.com
DEKALB COUNTY
Stone Mountain
Side by Side Clubhouse
1001 Main St.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Meetings Held: Every Mon. – Fri. 9 A.M. – 3 P.M.
Contact: Cindi Johnson (404) 378-1139
Fax: (404) 378-1164
info@sidebysideclubhouse.org
www.sidebysideclubhouse.org
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Brain Injury Association of
Georgia (BIAG)
National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) HelpLine 1-800-444-6443
1441 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-712-5504
Fax: 404-712-0463
Email: info@braininjurygeorgia.org
