Traumatic brain injury affects different people in different degrees, but everyone with TBI experiences similar emotions. 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 This group meets on the  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. 

We have tried to make the following list of TBI support groups in Virginia as complete as possible. 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. Information about starting your own TBI support group can be obtained from the Brain Injury Association of Virginia http://www.biav.net/

Abingdon

Abingdon Support Group

This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Call for more information.

Meeting Place:

Appalachian Independence Living Center
230 Charwood Dr.
Abingdon, Virginia

Contact:

Carmella Barker at (276) 619-3890 E-mail: survivingTBI@wmconnect.com.  

Abingdon General Disability Support Group

This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from noon to 2:30 p.m. Transportation is provided. Call or e-mail for information.

Meeting Place:

Appalachian Independence Living Center
230 Charwood Dr.
Abingdon, Virginia

Contact:

Steve Halley 276-628-2979 ext.307 E-mail: steve@bisswva.org.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville Brain Injury Support Team

This group meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call for more information

Meeting Place:  

UVA Health South Rehab Hospital, first Floor Conference Room

515 Ray C. Hunt Dr.
Charlottesville, Virginia 

Contacts:

Carol Ragland 434-969-4597 E-mail: dblmiracle@hotmail.com

Danville

Southside Support Group

This group meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. 

Meeting Place:

Mount Hermon Baptist Church.
4385 Franklin Turnpike
Danville, Virginia

Contact:

Sue Jones 434-724-7070

Farmville

Southside Support Group

This group meets on the  fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 pm.

Meeting Place:

Southside Community Hospital, first Floor Conference Room
800 Oak Street
Farmville, Virginia

Contact:

Rev. Clyde Shelton 434-767-2259

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Chapter and Support Group

This group meets on the last Thursday of the month from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Westwood Clubhouse
927 Maple Grove Dr., Suite 107
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Contact:

Lorraine Justice 804-819-9238
Jerry Craft 540-785-6155

Gloucester

Middle Peninsula Support Group

This group meets on the second Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon and also on the third Thursday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

Meeting Place:

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital
7519 Hospital Drive
Gloucester, Virginia

Contact: 

Teresa Ashberry 804-725-2829

Harrisonburg 

Greater Shenandoah Valley Support Group

This group meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Place:  

Harrisonburg Rescue Building
1700 Reservoir St.
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Contact:

Pat Wilkins 540-209-0134 (daytime)

Lynchburg

Central Virginia Chapter and Support Group

This group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Heritage United Methodist Church
582 Leesville Rd., Room 206
Lynchburg, Virginia

Contact:

Gwen Carwile 434-239-7053 

Martinsville

Martinsville Support Group

This group meets on the  second Wednesday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Memorial Hospital of Martinsville, Board Room
320 Hospital Drive
Martinsville, Virginia

Contact:

Carlton Redd 276-632-1018 E-mail:  credd.marc@embarquemail.com

Newport News

Riverside Rehabilitation Institute Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. 

Meeting Place:

Riverside Rehabilitation Institute (third floor classroom)
245 Chesapeake Avenue
Newport News, Virginia

Contact:

Woody Rea 757-928-8327 E-mail:  woodie.rea@rivhs.com  

Riverside Rehabilitation Institute Shoreview Cognitive-Communication Group

This group meets on the last Wednesday of the month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Survivors and caregivers welcome. Call for more information.

Meeting Place:

Shore View Medical Center (outpatient building).

Contact:

Leah Frazier 757-828-8050  E-mail: ldfrazier@msn.com.

Radford

New River Valley Support Group

This group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Radford University, Waldron College, Room 215
801 East Main Street
Radford, Virginia

Contact: 

Dianne Pendleton 276-952-2120.

Northern Neck--Warsaw

Northern Neck of Virginia TBI Support Group

This group meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. - noon.

Meeting Place:

The Orchard
20 Delrae St.
Warsaw, Virginia

Contact: 

Lorraine Justice  804-819-9238.

Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia Chapter and Support Groups

Several groups meet around the area including Arlington, Alexandria, and Loudon.

Contact: 

703 569-1855 for location and times or see www.nvbia.org.

 

Norton Support Group

This group meets on the second Thursday of the month from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Norton Community Hospital
100 Fifteen Street
Norton, Virginia

Contact:

Tracie Hall 276-679-5001 E-mail: tracie@bisswva.org  

Richmond

Richmond Chapter and Support Group

This group meets on the third Monday of the month at 6:15 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Auditorium of Children's Hospital
2924 Brook Rd.
Richmond, Virginia

Contact:  

Richmond BIAV office 804-355-5748

Richmond Supportive Survivors

This group meets every Tuesday between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Food Court at Regency Square Mall.

Contact:

Ted Taylor at 804-852-6644 before coming for the first time or email him at tedtaylor@freepcs.org

Roanoke Area Brain Injury Connection

This group meets on the  on the first Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Groups for people with brain injury and caregivers.  Call or e-mail for  more information.

Meeting Place:

Community Hospital first Floor Conference Room.
101 Elm Ave
Roanoke, Virginia

Contact:  

Barbara Iddings 540-342-9531
Heather Witt E-mail: hroberts444@hotmail.com.  

Stauton-August County—Fisherville

Staunton-Augusta County Area Support Group

This group meets on the second Monday of the month at 7 pm.  There are no meetings, however, in July and August. Call for directions and more information.

Meeting Place:  
Mary Switzer Building
Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center
Woodrow Wilson Ave.
Fishersville, Virginia

Contact:

Helen Cloud 540-886-5420 E-mail: hcloud35@msn.com

Tidewater Support Group

This group meets on the second Monday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Meeting Place:

Beacon Clubhouse
3808 Virginia Beach Blvd. (Birchwood Office Park)
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Contact:

Marylin Copeland 757 -816-1857

Tennessee

Tri-Cities (Tennessee) Support Group

This group meets on the second Thursday of the month (except Jan, July, and Aug) at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Place:

James H. and Cecile C. Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital
2511 Wesley Street
Johnson City, TN

Contact:  

Bette Lucas 423-952-1751.