Self-help groups bring people together who share a common life experience for support, education, and mutual aid.
Benefits of participating in a self-help group include:
- Learning new information and strategies for confronting problems
- Finding support from others
- The opportunity to help others
- Feeling empowered and more self-confident in coping with challenges.
National MS Society self-help groups have different purposes and goals. Groups may focus on support, advocacy, education, or be more social in nature. Some groups also serve specific populations, such as young adults, parents with MS, care partners, or African-Americans.
Members of self-help groups share a belief that positive personal change happens through individual efforts with the support of others.
Northern California Self Help Groups
The Northern California Chapter sponsors a network of self-help groups for people with MS and their loved ones. The groups are peer-facilitated and meet regularly for educational and social purposes, allowing members to express feelings and provide support to one another.
Alameda County
Alameda, Sharon 510-521-6260 or Ray 510-522-5210
Berkeley, Toni 510-735-7890
East Bay Lesbians, Jane 510-444-5257
Fremont, Kim 510-793-0765
Oakland, Katrina 510-568-2301
Oakland: African Americans, Tracey 510-670-8633
Oakland: Latinos, Elsa 510-777-1414
Oakland: Teens, Kimberly 925-470-8495 or 925-470-8495
Tri-Valley Pleasanton, Mary Beth 925-829-0832
Butte County
MS Chico Support Group, Nancy 530-898-6637
Contra Costa County
Brentwood: MS for lunch bunch, Kathy 925-286-7674 or Julie 925-513-4686 Mt. Diablo (Concord), John and Janis at 925-372-0859
El Cerrito, Robert 510-526-8196
Richmond, Vanda 510-559-1898
El Dorado County
Placerville,Doris Mcintire dmac95667@yahoo.com or Martha S. Martin martha-martin@att.net
Humboldt County
Eureka, Ann Louise 707-839-0177 or Kim 707-445-9803
Marin County
Corte Madera, Verita 415-927-7068 or Anita 415-892-5548
Mendocino
Mendocino, Joanne 707-937-4929
Merced County
Merced: MS Challengers, Susan 209-384-6533
Monterey County
Monterey, Susan 831-659-1354 or MaryLee 831-373-2450
Napa County
Napa, Colin 707-944-2262 or Penelope 707-265-9680
Nevada County
Grass Valley, Dan 530-272-7636
Placer County
Auburn, Ruth 530-888-8388
Roseville: Minimal Symptoms Group, Brett or Kelly 916-773-6799
or brettsmith51@comcast.net
Lincoln, Marcia or Jerry 916-408-7899
Sacramento County
Elk Grove, Willie 916-684-1677 or Dorothy 916-684-6849
Sacramento: Moving on with MS, Sylvia 916-349-1324
South Sacramento, Edie 916-688-2674
San Benito County
Hollister Group, Gina 831-636-3241, Robin 831-636-0930
or Helen 831-637-6267
San Francisco County
San Francisco Forum, Hose 415-587-7491
SF Potluck Luncheon, Karen 415-584-6115 (Meets periodically)
SF Sunset District, Tatiana 415-665-1178
San Francisco 20’s-30’s Group, Stephanie 415-722-1682
San Joaquin County
Stockton PM, Brenda 209-951-0536 or Mary 209-334-5670
Stockton AM, Betty 209-368-6026
Tracy, Linda 209-833-6882
San Mateo
Foster City, Eli 650-377-1970
San Mateo, George 650-593-5154
Santa Clara County
Milpitas, Indu 510-656-3408
Palo Alto, Luanne 650-328-0179 or George 650-593- 5154
“New” Now Forming-Palo Alto MS Caregivers Group, Bob Lesh- 650-826-0300
San Jose, Cor 408-270-8922 or David 408-578-3752
San Jose, Janine 408-794-0777
Santa Clara, Brian 408-739-9445 or Susan 408-253-4489
Santa Cruz County
Capitola, Tom 831-684-2252 or Ada 831-440-1211
Shasta County
Hope 4 MS, Beth 530-246-8404 or Patricia 530-222-7277 or Robin 530-246-2980
Solano County
Vacaville, Marian 707-422-7515 or Debrah 707-447-9603 (before 7:00 pm)
Vallejo, Marian 707-745-9333 or Cheryl 707-751-3732
Sonoma County
Petaluma, Sheila 707-765-6721
Santa Rosa, Debbie 707-569-9976
Rohnert Park / Petaluma, Debbie 707-569-9976
Healdsburg, Kate 707-433-9194
Sonoma Women’s Group, Noreen 707-933-9500
Stanislaus County
Modesto, Pati 209-524-8329 or Linda 209-574-0121
Turlock, Bill 209-664-1427 or Frances 209-667-2184
Sutter County
Yuba City, Evon 530-701-2189
Tehama County
Red Bluff, Teresa 530-529-4412 or Jodine 530-528-8767
Tuolumne County
Sonora, Steven or Gloria, 209-532-5646