Southern California Support Groups
Support groups provide a forum to share feelings, concerns, information, as well as a place to offer peer support and encouragement. Solicitations or research projects are not conducted at support group meetings.
Support groups often feature speakers specializing in scleroderma or related topics. To find out information about upcoming speakers or meeting topics, please contact the support group leader or chapter office.
These schedules are subject to change. Before attending a group for the first time, please call to verify date and time. Groups are free of charge and open to everyone, including patients, caregivers, family and friends.
Click a link to jump below to view more information about one or our support groups:
Bakersfield/Kern County | Camarillo/Ventura County | Central Coast | Crescenta Valley/Pasadena
Imperial County/El Centro | Inland Empire/San Bernardino | Los Angeles | Orange County
Palm Desert | San Diego/Encinitas | San Diego/Mission Valley | San Fernando Valley/Sherman Oaks
Santa Barbara | Whittier/San Gabriel | San Gabriel Valley
Support Group Announcements and Updates
Note: Due to COVID restrictions and for the safety of our participants all meetings will be held virtually until further notice.
Please visit our Facebook page for announcements, changes, alerts, etc. www.facebook.com/sclerodermasocal
Special talk/combined support group meeting with guest speaker: Dr. Ginny Maril
When: Jan 16, 2021 10:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Caregiving During Challenging Times"
We have a wonderful speaker next Saturday, Dr. Ginny Maril who will provide a very timely and important talk that focuses on our loved ones/caregivers while addressing things like burnout, Covid, sociopolitical unrest, the stresses of 2020, and other pressures people may be experiencing.
We want to encourage our loved ones to join us Saturday for this helpful perspective on the roles they play in your life and how to handle the daily responsibilities of being a caregiver while making sure to also take care of themselves, especially with the concerns of Covid-19.
Below is the link to register:
You are invited to a special talk/combined support group meeting with guest speaker: Dr. Ginny Maril
When: Jan 16, 2021 10:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Caregiving During Challenging Times"
You must register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItc-2orjwvE92BV9EbGsf7gvQundIOtTPG
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Dr. Maril:
Ginny Maril, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the University of Texas at Austin’s Counseling and Mental Health Center. Her clinical and research focus is on patients living with chronic illness and the well-being of their caregivers. Dr. Maril’s mother is a scleroderma patient, which inspired her to focus on the unique experience of living with scleroderma. Dr. Maril speaks in advocacy at local, regional, and national forums for those whose lives are impacted by chronic illness. She also provides training to healthcare providers who seek to better assist their patients living with chronic illness.
Young Adult Support Group (Ages 17 - 30's)
Meeting virtually twice a month on zoom.
Our young adult support group meetings provide a safe place to meet people your age living with scleroderma, where you can receive support, have some laughs and make long lasting friendships with others who truly understand what you're going through. Click Here to see our video.
To find out more about our young adult support group or to join a meeting, please email our young adult support group leaders below:
Support group Leaders:
Shervin Ghanoongooi
sghanoongooi@scleroderma.org
Fatema Shahab
chronicbossbabe@gmail.com
Bakersfield
Kern County Support Group
Meetings are on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., every other month
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Stephen Elrod
Phone: 661-201-1759
Email: stephenelrod168@yahoo.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Camarillo/Ventura County
Ventura County Support Group
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Robin D'Angelo
Phone: 805-701-9467
Email: robind318@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Central Coast
Central Coast Support Group (Servicing Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County)
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every other month
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Jennifer Wood
Phone: 805-878-6261
Email: sclerodermawarrior2021@yahoo.com or
Contact: Pat Muran (Habla Español)
Phone: 805-459-2362
Email: pat.ccssg@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Crescenta Valley/Pasadena
Crescenta Valley Support Group
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (see schedule below)
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Alejandra Serrano
Phone: 213-245-7439
Email: sclerowarrior18@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Imperial County/El Centro
Imperial County Support Group
Call for next meeting date and location
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Debi Gray
Phone: 760-554-4942
Email: ivsclerogroup2017@yahoo.com.
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Inland Empire/San Bernardino
Riverside Support Group
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Lisa Parks
Phone: 951-288-0728
or
Contact: Christine Haddad
Phone: 909-754-5934
Email: iesclerogroup@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Support Group
10am – 12pm
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Tina Burger
Phone: 310-699-7290
Email: tburger@scleroderma.org
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Orange County
The Orange County Scleroderma Support Group
Meetings are held on the SECOND Saturday of alternate months, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Bonnie Copeland
Phone: 714-606- 6059
Email: bonmail@pacbell.net
or
Contact: Roberta Hines
Phone: 562-745-8075
Email: hines.roberta50@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Palm Desert
Desert Area Support Group
We are looking for a new support group leader. If you are interested in leading a support group in this area, please contact Tina Burger tburger@scleroderma.org. No experience needed; we will help train and get things started.
Contact: Tina Burger
Phone: 424-227-6475
Email: tburger@scleroderma.org
2021 Schedule:
TBA
San Diego/Encinitas
Encinitas Support Group
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., every other month
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Kelly Clemeshaw
Phone: 760-855-3449
Email: kclemeshaw@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
San Diego/Mission Valley
Mission Valley Support Group
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., every other month
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Susan Okuno
Phone: 619-246-9393
Email: sokuno1@yahoo.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
San Fernando Valley/Sherman Oaks
San Fernando Valley Support Group
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every other Month (2nd Sunday)
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Map and directions
Contact: Kelly Ryan
Phone: 818-974-2428
Email: Kelly@kellycryan.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Support Group
Meetings are on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Elizabeth Duprey
Phone: 408-829-2718
Email:dupreyeliz@yahoo.com
or
Contact: Cindy Cattaneo
Phone: (805) 895-7384
Email: ccattaneo123@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
Whittier/San Gabriel
Whittier/San Gabriel Support Group
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: (We are currently not meeting in person. Meetings are via Zoom only)
Contact: Penni LaVoot
Phone: 714-313-8539
Email:plavoot@gmail.com
2021 Schedule:
TBA
San Gabriel Valley Peer Support Group
Contact: Catherine Baca
Phone: 626-232-8449
Email: MyLivingSpecialist@gmail.com
