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 undergoing similar challenges 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 several support groups offer help to people with any form of physical disability. 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 Georgia 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 TBI support group, you may want to consider starting your own. The Brain Injury Association of Georgia can provide helpful information and guidance on starting your own TBI support group. Their website is: https://braininjurygeorgia.org/
Albany
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:45 p.m.
Meeting place:
Ryan’s Steakhouse
1224 N. Westover Blvd.
Albany, GA 31707
Contact:
Tom Connelly (229) 883-3911
Tom.Connelly@aol.state.ga.us
Athens
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
Meeting place:
Saint Mary’s Hospital
1320 Baxter Street
Athens, GA 30606
(Meeting location is on the 5h floor, ADL room)
Contact:
Floretta Johnson
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
Atlanta
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Center for Rehab Medicine
1441 Clifton Road
Room 101
Atlanta, GA 30030
Contact:
Dr. Louise Cording 404-371-0497
lcording@minspring.com
Support Groups for Children and Adolescents with TBI and their Parents
This group is dedicated to the special needs of children and teenagers who are dealing with SCI. One group is for the children and adolescents, while their parents meet in a separate group at the same time. The groups meet on the first Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Meeting place:
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Inpatient Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU)
1001 Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
Contact:
Carol Mallon, Group Leader 404-785-4452
Carol.mallon@choa.org
Minor Brain Injury Support Group
This group which meets at 7 p.m. every second Thursday of the month, is dedicated to the needs of people with minor brain injury.
Meeting place:
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
Contact:
Jean Kropa 770-612-0612
Kropa@bellsouth.net
Jacques and Monique Haust
770-663-8320
Fax: 770-663-8017
jhausscappelle@aol.com
Atlanta/Emory Support Group
Meetings for this group are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Please call for more details
Meeting place:
Center for Rehab Medicine
1441 Clifton Road
Room 101
Atlanta, GA 30030
Contact:
Dr. Louise Cording 404-371-0497
lcording@minspring.com
Pat Gar
gar216@bellsouth.net
Augusta
Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury survivors and family members as well as caregivers are invited to attend. The support group is held on the second Thursday of every month from 6:00 to7:30 p.m.
Meeting place
Walton West Transitional Living Center
2501 Center West Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909
Contact:
706-829-0370
Augusta
The Brain Injury Support Group
The group meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.
Meeting place:
Walton West
2501 Center West Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909
Contact:
Patty Goolsby 706-829-0370
pattyg@wrh.org
Les Paul Morgan – (803) 648-2858
lpmorgan@csradreamcatcher.com
(Note: Les also leads a group in No. Augusta, SC. Contact Les for info)
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge TBI Support Group
This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Meeting place:
United Community Bank of Fannin Count
4000 Appalachian Highway
Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513
Contact:
Carolyn Stepp 706-492-5308
james-stepp@att.net
Columbus
Columbus Area Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting place:
This group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday and the fourth Thursday of the month. Call for details.
Columbus Med. Conf. Center
710 Center St.
Columbus, Georgia
Contact: Kay McCoy
Home 706-565-9298
Cell 706-325-2386
Kaymccoy3@hotmail.com
Angela Rozar
rozar07@aol.com
Conyers
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Call for details
Meeting place:
Conyers Presbyterian Church
911 N. Main St.
Conyers, GA 30012
Contact:
Tom Houchins 404-316-3193
hthouchins@yahoo.com
Decatur
VA/TBI Support Group
This group meets first and third Tuesday of the month at 1:30. Call for details.
Meeting place:
VA Medical Center
Speech Pathology Dept.
1610 Clifton Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Contact:
Dr. Inge Thomas 404-329-4654
Inge.Thomas@va.gov
Griffin
Lost and Found Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Call for details.
Meeting place:
First United Methodist Church
CEC Bldg – Youth Room
1401 Maple Dr
Griffin, GA 30224
Website: http://lostandfoundtbisupportgroup.community.officelive.com/default.aspx
Contact:
Mark & Sharon Huey 770- 233-1660
sharonhuey@bellsouth.net
Fort Oglethorpe
Jimmy Simpson Foundation Group
This group meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
Meeting place:
Ft. Oglethorpe United Methodist Church
1733 Battlefield Pkwy
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Contact:
Vickie Hodge (706)375-9520
jsfoundation@mindspring.com
Lawrenceville
Gwinnett Area TBI Support Group
This group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the church and also meets one other Thursday at a fast food restaurant. (Note: Church is located at the corner of Lawrenceville Highway and Langley Drive. Meet in the vestibule on the North Side of the church prior to this meeting. Meeting is then decided to be held at the church or in a nearby restaurant; therefore, contact Dennis to confirm prior to this meeting)
Please call for more information.
Meeting place:
First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville
395 W. Crogan St.
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Contact:
Dennis Stahl 770- 965-9426
stahldennisj@bellsouth.net
Macon
Macon TBI Support Group
This group meets every third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Potluck dishes are shared before the formal meeting; call for details.
Meeting place:
Central Georgia Rehab Hospital
3351 Northside Dr.
Macon, GA 31210
Contact:
Phyllis Dorn 478-960-2804
Marietta
Unlimited Possibilities
This group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m.
Meeting place:
Kennestone Hospital
Outpatient Rehab Center
100 Lacy St.
Marietta, GA 30060
Contact:
Martha Leatherwood 770-428-0284
supportgroup@mindspring.com
Doreen Davey 770-974-7866
doreend@mindspring.com
Laura Coomes 770-924-7509
lauracoomes@bellsouth.net
Riverdale
Miracles Happen Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
Meeting place:
Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale, GA 30274
Contact:
Pat Buice 770-473-7471
superhope@msn.com
Rome
TBI Support Group
This group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
Meeting place:
Floyd Behavioral Health
Windwood main level conference room
306 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165
Contacts:
Linda Studard 706-509-6623
lstudard@floyd.org
Ginger Cochran – gcochran@floyd.org
Roswell
Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Support Group
This group, one of four available at North Fulton Hospital meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Suite 100.
Stroke Support Group
This group for stroke survivors meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Suite 100. Stroke survivors have various degrees of TBI.
Family Support Group (TBI-CVA)
This group meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:45 p.m. in Suite 400.
TBI Support Group
This group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Suite 100.
Contact for the four above groups:
Stuart Hanzman 770-642-4236 ext.41
Meeting place for the four above groups:
North Fulton Regional Hospital
Medical Office Building
2500 Hospital Blvd.
Roswell, GA 30076
The Seminole Spirit: A Speech Language Support Group
This group for TBI survivors and others with language difficulties meets every other Thursday from 1 t 2 p.m. You are invited to bring your lunch.
Meeting place:
North Brook Methodist Church House
50 Houze Way Rd
Roswell, GA 30075
Contact:
Mark Halvorsen 404-434-7452
Seekinmotion2005@yahoo.com
Savannah
Savannah Advance Acquired Brain Injury Program
This group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Goodwill Industries
7220 Sallie Mood Dr
Savannah, GA 31407
Contact: Nicolas Pecone – 912- 354-6611 912-667-6677 cell
npecone@goodwillsavannah.ga.org
Savannah “Grey Matters”
This group meets at 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.
Meeting place:
Rehab Institute @ Memorial Medical Center
4600 Waters Ave.
Savannah, GA 31407
Contacts:
Jennifer Jolley – 912-350-7274
jolleje1@memorialhealth.com
Ludy Lugo – lugolu1@memorialhealth.com
Stone Mountain
Brain Injury Club House
Not a “support group” per se, the Side by Side Clubhouse is open every weekday to offer friendship, counseling, resources, and help with employment to people with TBI.
Location:
Side by Side Clubhouse
1001 Main St.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Clubhouse Hours: Every Mon. – Fri. 9 am. – 3 p.m.
Contact:
Cindi Johnson 404-378-1139
Fax: 404- 378-1164
info@sidebysideclubhouse.org
greta@sidebysideclubhouse.org
www.sidebysideclubhouse.org
Thomasville
“Hope” Southwest GA TBI Support Group
This group meets on second Monday of each month. A covered dish social is enjoyed at 6:30 p.m. followed by the formal meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Meeting place:
Northwoods Church of God (Social Hall)
640 Hall Rd, Thomasville, GA 31757
Website: http://hopefortbi.web.officelive.com/default.aspx
Contacts:
Vickie Gipson 229-224-1680
Rick Gipson 229-224-2852
rgipson@windstream.net
Waycross
Southeast Georgia Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.
Meeting place:
Satilla Regional Medical Center
Satilla Annex Classroom
410 Darling Ave.
Waycross, GA 31501
Contact:
Debra Gordon 912-285-7994
dgordon@satilla.csb.state.ga.us