Traumatic brain injury survivors face a variety of different issues. While everyone with TBI has different challenges, depending on the severity of their injury, other people with TBI can best understand the problems you are facing. TBI support groups provide the emotional support TBI patients and their families need to tackle the obstacles of living with a traumatic brain injury. Support groups are a wonderful way to make new friends and to learn about TBI.
Different TBI support groups focus on different aspects of coping with TBI. For example, some groups offer special separate meetings for the family members and caregivers of TBI patients, while other groups have one meeting for both the TBI patient and his or her family. Some groups focus on helping new TBI patients adjust to their new lifestyle, while other groups focus on offering adaptive recreational activities for people with TBI. Some support groups offer support for people with either TBI or SCI and other groups offer help to people with any form of physical disability. Some groups are for veterans suffering from a TBI acquired in combat. It is a good idea to check out several groups before deciding which one to join; some people find it helpful to belong to more than one group.
We have tried to make the following list of TBI support groups in Colorado as complete as possible. Since groups change meeting places and meeting times and may disband without notice, we advise you to call ahead before visiting a group’s meeting place for the first time.
If you cannot find a support group in your area, you may consider starting one. Helpful information on starting a support group is offered by the Brain Injury Association of Colorado:https://biacolorado.org/
Aurora
TBI Support Group
This group for survivors, family members and other interested parties meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Meeting place:
Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, 1st Floor
900 Potomac
Aurora, Colorado
Contacts:
Jen McCloskey 303-363-5346
Aurora-Children and Parents TBI Support Group
This is a special group for parents dealing with a child with TBI. Families meet together and support each other. The child with TBI, the parents, and the child’s siblings are all encouraged to attend. The group meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Meeting place
Children’s Hospital
13123 East 16th Avenue
Facilitator: Dr. Javier Negron 720-777-3901
Boulder
TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors, their family members, friends, caregivers, and any one interested in TBI meets twice a month on the first and third Thursdays. The first meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and is a general support and information meeting. The second meeting is a pizza night for socializing and it begins at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting place (general meeting):
Center for People with Disabilities
1675 Range Street
Pizza Night:
Abo’s Pizza- Table Mesa Shopping Center
Contacts:
Chris Carter 720-352-0465
Duncan Larsen 303-666-8206
Jeannie Frazzel 303-438-9895
Brush
TBI Support Group
This group is for survivors and their family members. Please call for location, dates and times.
Contact:
Elaine Prascher 970-842-4270
Canon City / Florence
TBI Support Group
This group meets the second Tuesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Please call for details.
Meeting place:
Wellness Therapy Center
119 S. Pikes Peak, Florence, CO
Contact:
Carolyn Simonson 719-269-8266
Colorado Springs
TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors, their family and friends meets from August to May on the third Thursday of the month, from 6:00-7:30p.m.
Meeting place:
Penrose Hospital, Cancer Conference Rooms B&C
2222 North Nevada Avenue
Contacts:
Sally Layton 719-596-3710
Dennis Friesth 719-574-0089, Gerald Riley 719-596-5898
Headway Neuro/Stroke Support Group
This group is for brain injury and stroke survivors and their family members. It meets the first and third Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Fargo’s
2910 E. Platte Ave.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Contact:
Debbie Carnes 719-459-0901
Colorado Springs– Military Spouses Group
This group offers a special place for military spouses to share their experiences while helping their spouse recover from a service-related TBI. It meets on the fourth
Thursday of the month from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Meeting place:
Cognogenesis BRRAIN (Brain-injury Resource Research Advocacy and Integration Network) Center
1259 Lake Plaza Dr. Suite 130
Colorado Springs, Co 80906
Contact:
Meghan Palmer 719-375-1926
Denver
Family Members of TBI Survivors Support Group
This group for family members and caregivers meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
Meeting place:
Racine’s
650 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado
Contacts:
Kaye Teti 303-438-6905
Fern Bechtel 720-283-2897
Mild Brain Injury Support Group
Since the problems faced by people with mild brain injury are somewhat different than those faced by people with more severe injuries this group offers a special place for those with mild TBI to share their experiences. Adult survivors and family members are welcome. The group meets on the second Monday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
915 East 9th Avenue
Denver, Colorado
Contacts:
Cathy Blake 303-464-9803
Ralf Denger 720-883-6648
Denver– North Metro TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors and their family members meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
North Valley Rehabilitation Hospital
8451 Pearl Street
Contacts:
Crystal Medina 303-819-9112
Bill Jackson 303-278-9703
Durango
TBI Support Group
This group for survivors, family members and supporters meets on the second
Wednesday of the month from 1 to 2 p.m. and on the fourth Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m.
Southwest Center for Independence (Conference Room)
835 East 2nd Avenue
Durango, Colorado
Contacts:
Sharon Mehesy 970-259-1672 ext. 2
Glenwood Springs
TBI Support Group
This group is for survivors, family members and friends. Please call for location, dates and times.
Contact:
Carrie Fell Miller 970-945-8349
Greeley
Family TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors and family members meets on the first Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meeting place:
The Golden Corral
3025 23rd Avenue
Greeley, Colorado
Contact:
Michelle Sauder 970-330-5326
Moving Forward Support Group
This group meets every Monday at 6:00 p.m. Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
Stephens Far
2774 Reservoir Road
Greeley, Colorado
Contacts:
Cheryl Castoulis 970-506-0008
Deanna Van Wagner
Longmont
TBI Support Group
This group for survivors, family members, and supporters meets on the second Thursday of the month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Meeting place:
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
2345 Bent Way (Call for December location)
Longmont, Colorado
Contacts:
Scott Sabella 970-351-1321 scott.sabella@unco.edu
Mary Anne Lessley 720-494-8973
maryanne@creative-organizing.com
Longmont– Family of TBI Survivors Support Group
This group for family members, caregivers & supporters meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of the month from September to May (except Dec.). Call for location, to confirm meeting and for telephone support.
Contacts:
Ruth Eastman 303-652-3097
Mary Anne Lessley 720-494-8973
Longmont– Lunch Break TBI Support Group
This group is for survivors, family members and supporters. Call for monthly date, location and to confirm meeting
Contact:
Janis Johnson 970-532-5445
Otero County
TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors and family members meets on the third Thursday of the month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Washington Avenue Baptist Church
Rocky Ford, Colorado
Contact:
Desarenay and George Pfaff 719-254-7631
Pueblo
TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors and others meets second Wednesday of the month. Dinner is at 5:00 and the meeting is from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Parkview Hospital, North Annex Sierra Room
400 West 17th Street
Pueblo, Colorado
Contacts:
Jim Evans 719-520-1102
Ken Kauffman 719-423-9227
TBI Spousal Support Group (Fort Carson)
This group for spouses of people dealing with TBI from a military-service-related injury meets on the last Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Call for details.
Meeting place:
SFAC (Soldier and Family Assistance Center) on Fort Carson
1839 O’Connell Blvd
(Building 1039)
Fort Carson, Colorado 80913
Contact:
Meghan Palmer 719-375-1926
Sterling
TBI/Stroke Support Group
This group for survivors of brain injury or stroke meets on the second Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
Meeting place:
Sterling Regional Medical Center, Rehab Conference Room
615 Fairhurst St
Sterling, Colorado
Contact:
Judy Houser 970-522-0402
Western Slope
TBI Support Group
This group for adult survivors, family members and friends meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Meeting place:
Ratican Tower
875 Main Street
Grand Junction, Colorado
Contact:
Bill Queen 970-255-1694
Drene Stevens 970-361-5495