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 lunch group (meets periodically), Toni 510-653-4534
Central Berkeley, Audrey 510-287-6543
East Bay Lesbians, Nora 510-313-3862
Fremont, Kim 510-793-0765
Oakland, Katrina 510-523-1891
Oakland: African Americans, Karen 510-757-3290
Oakland: Latinos, Elsa 510-777-1414
Butte County
Chico, Amy 530-863-7818 or Tracy 530-343-3623
Contra Costa County
Brentwood: MS for lunch bunch, Kathy 925-286-7674 or Julie 925-513-4686
Mt. Diablo (Concord), Cindy 925-677-0737 or Jan 925-372-0859
El Cerrito, Elizabeth 510-549-2154
El Dorado County
Placerville, Doris 530-622-5673
Humboldt County
Eureka, Ann Louise 707-839-0177 or Kim 707-445-9803
Marin County
Corte Madera, Vicki 415-892-7370 or Anita 415-892-5548
Mendocino
Mendocino, Alice 707-964-7850
Merced County
Merced: MS Challengers, Susan 209-564-4311
Monterey County
Monterey, Currently on hold Seeking new leaders. Please contact Susan Mattison at 1-800-344-4867, option 2 ext. 74102
Nevada County
Grass Valley, Phyllis 530-432-3504
Placer County
Auburn, Ruth 530-888-8388
Roseville: Minimal Symptoms Group, Peter 916-989-1364
Lincoln, Marilyn 916-434-6898
Sacramento County
Elk Grove, Letitia 916-896-7764 or Dorothy 916-684-6849
Sacramento: Moving on with MS, Irene 916-536-9116 or Annette 916-715-4973 or Sylvia 916-349-1324
Sacramento: MS Sisters (men welcome too) Kim 916-821-6133 or Chelsea 916-289-6543 or Stephanie 916-215-5356
Sacramento: Thursday Night Troop (TNT!) Gregory 916-743-5320
San Benito County
Hollister Group, Gina 831-636-3241 or Joann and Andrew 831-630-0266
San Francisco County
SF Potluck Luncheon, Karen 415-584-6115 (Meets periodically)
San Francisco Young at Heart Group, George 415-724-0064
San Joaquin County
Stockton PM, Brenda 209-951-0536 or Mary 209-334-5670
Stockton AM, Laurie 209-943-2686 or Velma 209-951-2264
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 or Phyllis 408-509-8137
Palo Alto, George 650-281-7646
MS Caregivers, Bob 650-826- 0300
San Jose, David 408-578-3752
Santa Clara, 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 Willie 707-689-7814
Sonoma County
Guerneville, Self-Help Group now forming. For more information contact Andrew Rose at 1-800-344-4867 option 2, ext. 73004.
Santa Rosa, Susan 707-544-9654 or Debbie 707-548-8437
Santa Rosa MS Caregiver group, Spencer 707-586-3811
Healdsburg, Kate 707-433-9194
Stanislaus County
Modesto, Tim Overweg, 800-344-4867
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