People with traumatic brain injury suffer a variety of challenges depending on the degree and extent of their injury. Dealing with TBI is challenging for both the patient and his or her family, but sharing your experiences with people who have had similar experiences can help. TBI support groups provide the opportunity to make friends and learn more about TBI.
Different TBI support groups have different focuses, so check out several, if possible, to see which one best meets your needs. Some TBI support groups emphasize learning about TBI, while others emphasize offering adaptive recreational opportunities for TBI patients. Some groups have meetings for patients and separate meetings for caregivers and family members, while others invite any one interested in TBI to the same meeting. There a few groups solely for people with mild TBI.
We have tried to make the following list of TBI support groups in North Carolina as complete as possible; some groups are listed by county rather than city. Since support groups change or disband without warning we advise you to call before traveling to the group’s meeting place for the first time. If you cannot find a group in your area, you may wish to start one. The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina offers helpful advice on starting your own support group:http://www.bianc.net/index.htm.
A Support Group leader’s newsletter is sent out quarterly from TBI Project STAR at Carolinas Rehabilitation. Newsletters/event information is mailed quarterly from BIANC to support group leaders. Information on these newsletters can be obtained from the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina.
Anson County
Anson County BI and Cognitive Disability Support Group
Please call for more information on this group.
Meeting Place:
Anson Community Hospital
500 Morven Road
Wadesboro, NC 28170
Contacts:
Cynthia Furr at (704) 695-3233
Nancy Capel at (704) 694-3156
Ashe/Watauga Counties (Jefferson)
High Country Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Mount Paddy Church
822 Highway 88 West
Jefferson, NC
Contact:
Wylene Taylor or Debbie Absher at (336) 246-4542 or taylorw@newriver.org
Asheville
Smoky Mountain BI Support Group
This group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Foster Adventist Church
375 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC
Contact:
Karen Harrington,
NC Brain Injury Support Center
68 Sweeten Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 277-4868, E-mail: Karen.Harrington@bianc.net
Teens/Young Adults with TBI
Currently meeting with Smoky Mountain Support Group
Contact:
Karen Harrington at (828) 277-4868 or Karen.Harrington@bianc.net
Carteret County (Morehead City)
Carteret County Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
111 Hodges Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
Contact:
Debbie Jones at (252) 725-1430 or ccbisg@gmail.com
Cary
Cary Hospital Support Group
This group meets the first Monday of each month from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Meeting Place:
WakeMed Cary Hospital
1900 Kildare Farm Rd
Cary, NC
Contact:
Leslie Johnson at (919) 363-2576 or (919) 231-3325
Dave Baack at (919) 460-9094
Chapel Hill
UNC Rehabilitation Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the third Wednesday of each month from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Meeting Place:
UNC Wellness Center in Meadowmont
100 Sprunt Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Contact:
Karla Thompson at (919) 966-8813 or Karla_Thompson@med.unc.edu
Charlotte
Carolinas Rehabilitation Inpatient/Outpatient Family Care
This group meets each Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Family Resource Room, Carolinas Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28203
Contact:
Peggy Philbrick, Carolinas Rehabilitation, at (704) 355-1502 orpeggy.philbrick@carolinashealthcare.org
Charlotte Area Brain Injury Association
This group meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Carolinas Rehabilitation, Private Dining Room
Carolinas Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28203
Contact:
Sally Rickard, Carolinas Rehabilitation, at (704) 355-1502 orsally.rickard@carolinashealthcare.org
Couples Night Out Support Network
Call for more information.
Contact:
Peggy Philbrick at (704) 355-1502 or peggy.philbrick@carolinashealthcare.org
Spouse Support Group
Meeting times and locations vary – call for information.
Contact:
Peggy Philbrick at (704) 355-1502 or peggy.philbrick@carolinashealthcare.org
Steele Creek Stroke Support Group
This group meets the second Wednesday of the month from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church on the corner of Westinghouse and Hwy 49.
Contact:
Jake Osborne at (704) 504-3691 or jakeandjane543701@gmail.com
Cleveland County
Cleveland County BI Support Network
This group meets the third Thursday of each month.
Meeting Place:
Poplar Springs Baptist Church
1106 Poplar Springs Church Road
Shelby, NC
Contact:
Carolyn Costner at (704) 434-5624 or scostner3@carolina.rr.com
Concord
Concord Area Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Support Network
This group meets the third Monday of each month from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Forrest Hills United Methodist Church
265 Union Street
Concord, NC
Contact:
Margaret Love at (704) 784-2503 or LUV3@ctc.net
Gayle Pittman at (704) 888-4110
Durham
Durham Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Contact:
Shani Cohen at 919-419-9955, ext. 19, or scohen@learningservices.com
Fayetteville
Fayetteville Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Tuesday of the Month from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Cape Fear Valley Rehab Center (formerly known as Southeastern Regional Rehab Center), Patient Dining Room,
1638 Owen Drive
Fayetteville, NC
Contact:
Ellen Scherling-Morales at (910) 486-1101 or Ellen.Morales@ncmail.net
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
1200 Fairmont Court
Fayetteville, NC 28304
Fort Bragg Brain Injury Support Group For Military Only
This group meets the third Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Meeting Place:
Womack at Weaver Auditorium
Contact:
Elizabeth Thomson MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, at (910) 907-7898 or elizabeth.thomson@us.army.mil
Gaston County
To Be Included (TBI)
This group meets the third Tuesday of the month from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Footprints Carolina
2020 Remount Road
Gastonia, NC
Contact:
Shirley Moore at (704) 884-2500 or smoore@pathmhddsa.org
CaroMont Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November at 7 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Gaston Memorial Hospital in Elm room
2525 Court Drive
Gaston, NC
Contacts:
Kristen Alford at alfordk@gmh.org
Kristen or Celeste Kilpatrick at (704) 671-5730
Fractured Friends Brain Injury Support Groups for Teens
This group meets the first Saturday of each month (call for time).
Meeting Place:
Compleat Rehab and Sports Therapy Center
2675 Court Drive
Gastonia, NC 28054
Contact:
Terri DelGreco at (704) 824.4999 or fracturedfriends@gmail.com
Goldsboro
The Overcomers, Brain Injury Rehab That Helps
This group meets the third Saturday of each month from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Re Nu Life
Goldsboro, NC
Contact: Vera Hammon, 919-734-0266
Greensboro
Greensboro Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Moses Cone Health System’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital, 4th floor (4000 Unit Day Room),
1200 N. Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
Contact:
Lucy Hoyle at (336) 832-7450, (336) 319-2214 (pager), or at lucy.hoyle@mosescone.com
Greenville
Down East Survivors
This group meets the first Monday of each month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Rehabilitation classroom
Call for address and more information
Contact:
Sandie Worthington at (252) 561- 6886
Vollen Knights Young Adults Support Group
In association with 4-H Pitt County at Pitt County 4-H Agriculture Extension Center
Volunteers at Community Events.
Contact:
Sandie Worthington at (252) 561-6886
F.I.S.H. (Families Initiating Support and Hope)
Pediatric support group for brain injured children and their families. This group meets every other month.
Meeting Place:
Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Rehabilitation/Spinal Cord Lounge
2100 Stantonsburg Rd.
Greenville, NC 27835-6028
Contact:
Montigne Hassett at (252) 847-6971 or montigne.hassett@uhseast.com
Henderson (also covers Franklin, Granville, Warren, Vance counties)
Kerr Lake Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month.
Meeting Place:
Maria Parham Hospital
566 Ruin Creek Road
Henderson, NC
Contact:
Lynne Denis at (919) 693-7623 or businesscents@nc.rr.com
Hickory
Catawba Valley Brain Injury Association Support Group
This group meets the fourth Tuesday each month from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare
3050 11th Avenue Drive SE
Hickory, NC
Contacts:
Pat Benfield at pbenfield@braininjuryspecialists.com
Crystal Podger at (828) 304-9096 or cpodger@braininjuryspecialists.com
Catawba Valley Brain Injury Association Business Meeting & Social
This group meets the third Thursday of each month. Times and locations periodically vary – call for information.
Social Day – 9:30am – Noon and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Business Meeting/Luncheon – Noon – 1 p.m.
Meeting place:
First Plaza Bldg.
1985 Tate Boulevard SE
Hickory, NC
Contacts:
Pat Benfield at pbenfield@braininjuryspecialists.com
Crystal Podger at (828) 304-9096 or cpodger@braininjuryspecialists.com
High Point
Brain Injury Alliance of High Point
This group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Millis Health Education Center
600 North Elm Street
High Point, NC
Contact:
John Peeler at (336) 887-0745
Kitty Barringer at (336) 885-7627
Jacksonville, Onslow County Area
Right Hand Angels Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the third Saturday of each month from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Jacksonville
Contact:
Staff SGT Robin Bristow at (843) 685-9553 (cell), (910) 451-4161 (work), orrobin.bristow@usmc.mil
Lake Norman
Lake Norman Brain Injury Support Network
This group meets the fourth Monday of each month (except Dec.) from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Lake Norman Regional Medical Center
171 Fairview Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
Contact:
Sylvia Whitmire at (704) 224-6069 or sylvia@brainrehabspecialist.com
Lenior/Caldwell County
Foothills Area Brain Injury Support Group
Meeting times and locations vary, please call.
Contact:
Pam Gilbert at (828) 758-0463
New Bern
Coastal Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Place:
The Homeplace
1309 McCarthy Blvd
New Bern, NC
Contact:
Amy Davis at (252) 670-6625
Raleigh
Triangle Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Meeting Place:
WakeMed, Rehab, 1st floor: Dining/conference area
3000 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC
Contact:
Monica McGrath at (800) 377-1464
Rocky Mount
Emily Ellis Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets every Thursday from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Bridge Gym Area at the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehab Center
2460 Curtis Ellis Dr.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Contact:
Tabitha Jackson at (252) 451-3711 or tnjackson@nhcs.org
Salisbury
Salisbury Brain Injury Support Group
Contact:
Donna Rasile at (704) 431-4274 or donna.rasile@gmail.com
Stanly County
Brain Injury Team Support of Stanly – BITS
This group meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Cover dish supper followed by meeting. Call to confirm.
Meeting Place:
Silver Road Baptist, Church Fellowship Hall
Oakboro, NC
Contact:
Margaret Owen at (704) 485-2483
Statesville
Surviving Angels
This group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Fairfield Inn (Exit 50 off I-77)
Contact:
Kim Wolf at (704) 528-0399 or kimboom@bellsouth.net
Sylva
TBI of the Mountains
This group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Pathways for the Future
525 Mineral Springs Drive
Sylva, NC
Contact:
Joy McMillan at (828) 497-5786
Union County
Union County Area Brain Injury Support Network
This group meets the first Monday of each month from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Carolinas Medical Center – Cancer Outpatient Center Waiting Room
Monroe, NC
Contact:
Peggy Philbrick, Carolinas Rehabilitation at (704) 355-4354 orpeggy.philbrick@carolinashealthcare.org
Whiteville
Whiteville Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place:
Education Center, Classroom 1A
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
500 Jefferson Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
Contact:
Carla Brown at (910) 642-1717 or cbrown@crhealthcare.org
Wilmington
Wilmington Brain Injury Support Group
This group meets the second Monday of each month from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Meeting Place:
First floor classroom at NHRMC Rehab,
2131 South 17th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Contact:
Morgan Lankford at (910) 667-7062 or juxonmorgan@gmail.com
Winston-Salem
Back on Track
This group meets the second Monday of each month.
Meeting Place:
Forsyth Medical Center
3333 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Contact:
Robin Alexander Embry at 336-718-3407 or REAlexander@novanthealth.org