The Los Angeles Chronic Pain Support Group

### Objective:

This is a peer-led chronic pain support group.
The goal of this group is to provide a safe and supportive space for individuals living with chronic pain to share their experiences and offer mutual support. It is an opportunity to connect with others, validate one another’s journeys, and find solidarity in managing chronic pain.
This group is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment. Therefore, discussions of past traumas or other issues best addressed in therapy should be kept for individual sessions with a licensed professional.

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### Expectations:

1. Primary Focus: The primary topic for discussion is your personal experience living with chronic pain.
2. Guided Sharing: Optional prompts about life with chronic pain will be provided to all members at or before each meeting to help guide the conversation.
3. Respectful Communication: Please be respectful of others by allowing each person to speak without interruption. If you'd like to comment or provide feedback, please use the "raise hand" feature on Zoom, and the facilitator will recognize you after the person finishes sharing.
4. Voluntary Sharing: Each member will have the chance to share, though sharing is not mandatory. You are welcome to simply listen if you prefer.
5. Time Allocation: Time to share will be based on the number of attendees. Initially, expect around 10 minutes per person, though this may be adjusted as needed.
6. Appropriate Language: Please use respectful and appropriate language at all times.
7. Group Moderation: The facilitator reserves the right to mute or remove any participant if necessary to maintain the group's purpose, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all.
8. Confidentiality: What is shared in this group stays in this group. Please respect the confidentiality of others and do not share details of group discussions outside of the meeting.

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### Disclaimers:

1. Shared Experience: All members of this group live with chronic pain, and we come together to offer support based on our personal experiences.
2. Non-Medical Nature: No member is a licensed medical professional. Any advice shared is based on personal experience, not professional recommendation.
3. Medication & Therapies: Medications and therapies that work for one person may not work for another and could cause harm. Always consult with your doctor, therapist, or pharmacist before trying any new medication or treatment discussed during the group.
4. Medication Discussions: Please limit detailed conversations about medications or specific treatments to discussions outside the group meeting.
5. Confidentiality of Providers: Avoid mentioning healthcare providers by name to respect privacy.
6. No Sales: This group is a safe, supportive space and is not to be used for promoting or selling any products.

Each group during our sessions (including breakout rooms) is facilitated by a member with chronic pain who is not trained as a doctor, social worker, psychiatrist, or therapist.
All prospective members are welcome to attend or to contact Tom Norris at 323-775-2311 for more information.
During the Pandemic and for the near future, this group will meet every Tuesday at 7:00 PM on Zoom.
Zoom invitations will be forwarded through Meetup.
Members must be chronic pain sufferers or family members of chronic pain sufferers. No solicitation is allowed.