About us
The Bay Area Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group is a friendly, unstructured, in-person peer support group for anybody 18+ who lives with chronic pain, illness(es), invisible disabilities, or any type of mental health experiences. The group is a casual safe space to hang out, talk about our lives, share coping strategies, make friends, create community, and get support.
This group is a program of Better Because Collective, a mental health nonprofit that supports people as they navigate difficult life experiences. We also offer an online platform where people can share their stories of growth and healing. Our goal is simple: to offer connection, kindness, and hope.
There are two chapters:
- San Francisco
- East Bay (Berkeley)
San Francisco details:
Location: 54 Iris Avenue, San Francisco, California 94118.
Look for a blue residential building with silver banding and palm trees in the front with an open garage door. There are folding chairs for everybody to use.
Accessibility Info:
- The meeting space is in a private residential garage that is wheelchair accessible.
- There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms a block away at Starbucks and Peet's.
- The garage is scent-free.
- There is street parking on the same block and a free-of-charge parking lot a block away.
- The meeting space is nestled between the #1 MUNI and the 38 MUNI.
COVID Safety:
- The garage door is left open for ventilation.
- Masking is optional at this time.
- Wear warm clothes and bring a throw blanket since the garage door remains open for ventilation/COVID safety.
If you have any questions about the San Francisco group, feel free to message or email the host, Rebecca, at rebecca@betterbecausecollective.org
East Bay chapter details:
Location: 2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
https://www.2727.today
Accessibility Info: The meeting space is in a well-lit, airy gallery space that is wheelchair accessible, with a bathroom in the same building accessible by ramp.
COVID Safety: We are asking folks to mask!
If you have any questions about the East Bay group, feel free to message or email the host, Anna, at [herschlaga@gmail.com](mailto:herschlaga@gmail.com), and she'll get back to you as quickly as she is able!
Newsletter and contact info:
Sign up for our newsletter, where we'll share resources and announce upcoming events. https://go.betterbecausecollective.org/opt-in
Upcoming events
33
East Bay Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group Meetup
2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA, USAbout us: The Bay Area Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group is a friendly, unstructured, in-person peer support group for anybody 18+ who lives with chronic pain, illness(es), invisible disabilities, or any type of mental health experiences. The group is a casual safe space to hang out, talk about our lives, share coping strategies, form friendships, create community, and get support.
The group is part of Better Because Collective, a mental health nonprofit that supports people as they navigate difficult life experiences. We also offer an online platform where people can share their stories of growth and healing. Our goal is simple: to offer connection, kindness, and hope.
Location: 2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Look for a corner gallery in a residential neighborhood!
Accessibility Info:
- The meeting space is in a wheelchair accessible gallery.
- There are bathrooms accessible via ramp within the gallery.
- The lighting is relatively gentle, though of course feel free to bring hats, sunglasses to adjust!
- Seating provided by the gallery are wooden, foldout chairs. If a metal foldout chair would be preferable, let me know, and I'll try to procure some!
- Feel free to bring heating pads, yoga mats, cooling pads, to make yourself as comfortable as possible!
***Please refrain from wearing anything scented, including lotion, dry-cleaned clothes, etc. This is to ensure that the group is safe for people with chemical sensitivities.***
Scheduling Info: While this group runs every other week, there are a few dates when the space will not be available. Those dates are: 4/7, 5/5, 6/2, and 11/3! To play it safe, check on the meetup page to be sure that we are meeting!
COVID Safety:
- We are asking folks to mask!
If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email Anna at herschlaga@gmail.com
23 attendees
Santa Clara: Discuss life with chronic illness, pain, and invisible disabilities
Saratoga Library (Oak Room), Saratoga Library 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070, United States, Saratoga, CA, USHi folks! If you are interested in attending the South Bay/Santa Clara Area support group after 4/25/26, I'll be hosting sessions as part of my own Meetup group starting in May. Hope to see you there! Here's the link: https://www.meetup.com/chronically-invisible-conditions-support-community/?utm_medium=referral
About us: We're a friendly casual peer support group for anybody 18+ who lives with chronic illness(es), chronic pain, invisible disabilities, and any sort of mental health experiences. Our group is an unstructured safe space to hang out, talk about our lives, share coping strategies, form friendships, create community, and get support. We also have arts & crafts!
Super excited to have folks attend! Please RSVP to confirm your spot or join the waitlist.
Feel free to contact me here if you have any questions or concerns: asenarde@gmail.com
14 attendees
(SF) Discuss life with chronic pain, illness, invisible disabilities, & anxiety
54 Iris Ave, San Francisco, CA, USAbout us: The Bay Area Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group is a friendly, unstructured, in-person peer support group for anybody 18+ who lives with chronic pain, illness(es), invisible disabilities, or any type of mental health experiences. The group is a casual safe space to hang out, talk about our lives, share coping strategies, form friendships, create community, and get support.
The group is part of Better Because Collective, a mental health nonprofit that supports people as they navigate difficult life experiences. We also offer an online platform where people can share their stories of growth and healing. Our goal is simple: to offer connection, kindness, and hope.
Location: 54 Iris Avenue, San Francisco, California 94118
Look for a blue residential building with silver banding and palm trees in the front with an open garage door. In the garage, a bunch of folding chairs will be set up in a circle with people sitting together and socializing.
Accessibility Info:
- The meeting space is in a private residential garage that is wheelchair accessible.
- There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms a block away at Starbucks and Peet's.
- The garage is scent-free.
- The garage is not low-light, so bring sunglasses if you need them.
- There is street parking on the same block and a free-of-charge parking lot a block away.
- The meeting space is nestled between the #1 MUNI and the 38 MUNI.
***Please refrain from wearing anything scented, including lotion, dry-cleaned clothes, etc. This is to ensure that the group is safe for people with chemical sensitivities.***
COVID Safety:
- The garage door is left open for ventilation.
- Masking is optional at this time.
- Wear warm clothes and bring a throw blanket since the garage door remains open for ventilation/COVID safety.
If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email Rebecca at rebecca@betterbecausecollective.org
10 attendeesEast Bay Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group Meetup
2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA, USAbout us: The Bay Area Chronic Pain & Illness Peer Support Group is a friendly, unstructured, in-person peer support group for anybody 18+ who lives with chronic pain, illness(es), invisible disabilities, or any type of mental health experiences. The group is a casual safe space to hang out, talk about our lives, share coping strategies, form friendships, create community, and get support.
The group is part of Better Because Collective, a mental health nonprofit that supports people as they navigate difficult life experiences. We also offer an online platform where people can share their stories of growth and healing. Our goal is simple: to offer connection, kindness, and hope.
Location: 2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Look for a corner gallery in a residential neighborhood!
Accessibility Info:
- The meeting space is in a wheelchair accessible gallery.
- There are bathrooms accessible via ramp within the gallery.
- The lighting is relatively gentle, though of course feel free to bring hats, sunglasses to adjust!
- Seating provided by the gallery are wooden, foldout chairs. If a metal foldout chair would be preferable, let me know, and I'll try to procure some!
- Feel free to bring heating pads, yoga mats, cooling pads, to make yourself as comfortable as possible!
***Please refrain from wearing anything scented, including lotion, dry-cleaned clothes, etc. This is to ensure that the group is safe for people with chemical sensitivities.***
Scheduling Info: While this group runs every other week, there are a few dates when the space will not be available. Those dates are: 4/7, 5/5, 6/2, and 11/3! To play it safe, check on the meetup page to be sure that we are meeting!
COVID Safety:
- We are asking folks to mask!
If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email Anna at herschlaga@gmail.com
9 attendees
Past events
60
