Support Groups

FIND A SUPPORT GROUP

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is concerned with the physical, emotional and social impact on people and their families diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A network of NatCapLyme support groups in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland offers meetings, events and education. Support groups vary in their focus with emphasis on support, education and social gatherings. If you are seeking a support group check our listings to the left.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

Maryland Support Groups

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is concerned with the physical, emotional and social impact on people and their families diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A network of NatCapLyme chapters in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland offers meetings, events and education. Support groups vary in their focus with emphasis on support, education and social gatherings. If you are seeking a support group check our listings to the left.

Anne Arundel County Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

The Anne Arundel Chapter serves the entire county, including Glen Burnie, Odenton, Severn, Annapolis, Owings, Harwood, Shadyside, Davidsonville, Crofton, Linthicum, Pasadena, Lake Shore, Gibson Island, Deale, Ft. Meade, and Severna Park.

Monthly support group meetings take place the third Saturday of the month

 

Location: Anne Arundel Medical Center
Belcher Pavilion, 7th floor classroom
2000 Medical Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401-3742

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitator is Rob Cloutier.

Rob Cloutier has been active in Lyme advocacy since 2000, and he has seven years of experience facilitating Lyme disease support group meetings, with four years in Frederick County, and prior to that, three years in Howard County, Maryland. He is more than willing to answer questions regarding Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and he can be reached at frederickcountylyme@gmail.com.

Harford County Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location: Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
Chesapeake 1 Conference Room
500 Upper Chesapeake Drive
Bel Air, MD 21014

Time: For the date and time of the next meeting, please email harfordlymeadvocates@gmail.com.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting is facilitated by Janet Jensen.

Janet holds degrees in nursing, computer science, and mathematics and has completed graduate level work in chemistry. She was employed for 10 years as a registered nurse with special interest in medical-surgical nursing and 5 years in immunology research. She is currently working as a researcher on sensor technologies and nano-fabrication methods. Janet’s family has been dealing with Lyme disease and co-infections since 2009. She feels education and sharing “lessons learned” are critical tools in recovering from persistent Lyme disease and co-infections.

For questions and the date and location of the next meeting, please contact Janet at harfordlymeadvocates@gmail.com.

North Carolina Support Groups

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is concerned with the physical, emotional and social impact on people and their families diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A network of NatCapLyme chapters in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland offers meetings, events and education. Support groups vary in their focus with emphasis on support, education and social gatherings. If you are seeking a support group check our listings to the left.

Central North Carolina Support Group

Monthly support group meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location: Queens Grant High School (easily accessible from I-485)
10323 Idlewild Road
Matthews, NC 28105-1910

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitators are John and Barbara McLean.

John was misdiagnosed for nine years while he was actually suffering from Lyme disease. Barbara has been a caregiver for her grandmother and mother in-law, both of whom suffered terminal illnesses. She was also John’s advocate during his battle with and treatment of Lyme. The McLean family vowed to raise Lyme awareness in their state.

John can be reached at charlottelyme@gmail.com.

Virginia Support Groups

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is concerned with the physical, emotional and social impact on people and their families diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A network of NatCapLyme chapters in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland offers meetings, events and education. Support groups vary in their focus with emphasis on support, education and social gatherings. If you are seeking a support group check our listings to the left.

Blue Ridge Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

The Blue Ridge Chapter offers a patient/caregiver support and education group to Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Northwest Fauquier, and Southwest Loudoun counties.

Support group meetings are temporarily cancelled until further notice. However, the nearest support group meeting is the Fauquier County Chapter which is listed below.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

Central Virginia Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

The group was previously facilitated by Joe LeBlanc, who had a long history of educating the public on Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

Joe researched Lyme disease since late 1994, when his wife Betty first became ill. He was on local radio, featured in newspaper articles, and spoke on tick-borne diseases at local health events in central Virginia.

Joe passed away on January 22, 2018. He will be sorely missed by family, friends and the NatCapLyme board of directors.

For questions regarding future meetings for this chapter, please contact natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org or call 703-821-8833.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

Fairfax Support Group

Monthly support group meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at alternating locations. Please call facilitator for location.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Locations: Fairfax City Regional Library
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030-2514

Oakton Public Library
10304 Lynnhaven Place
Oakton, VA 22124

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitator is Kathy Boileau.

Kathy has been on the NatCapLyme board of directors since 2001 and has shared her expertise in Lyme disease treatment and diagnosis at many support group meetings. Kathy worked as a registered nurse at Inova Fairfax Hospital for more than 15 years before being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1998. Always available to talk and help others, Kathy can be reached by phone at (703) 464-0677, or by email at KMBoileau@verizon.net.

Fauquier County Support Group

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location:Fauquier Hospital
Chestnut Room
500 Hospital Drive,
Warrenton, VA 20186

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitators are Betsy Ussery and George Phillips.

George is a retired engineer who was diagnosed with Lyme in 2003. He was successfully treated and continues to be symptom-free. Betsy, who has chronic Lyme, is happy to have most of her health restored. She spends much of her time helping Lyme patients understand the complexities of their illness and encourages them to seek treatment. She is an active advocate for tick-borne disease education, as well as testing and treatment options.

You can reach Betsy at 540-341-8245 and George at 540-347-7265. George’s email is phillipsgeo@comcast.net.

Warren County (Front Royal) Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location: Warren Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center
120 N Commerce Ave, Front Royal, VA 22630
Outpatient Center – First Floor Conference Room
(540) 635-0730

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Our group meets quarterly on the second Saturday in the months of Feb, May, August, and November.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

We are a Lyme and Tick Disease Support Group that started in 2019 in Warren County, VA.  Our members are comprised of individuals that have Lyme and other tick borne diseases, individuals whose family members have Lyme and other tick borne diseases, and individuals who want to become more knowledgeable about the issues surrounding Lyme and other tick borne diseases.

Our goal is to share information with our members and the community to better understand Lyme and Tick Diseases. We strive to offer support to our members and help individuals connect and share resources and ideas.  Our meetings include guest speakers (ex: herbalist, certified essential oils representative, pharmacist, and functional medicine doctor), article reviews, book clubs, presentations at the library, information sharing, celebrations, and fellowship.

For more information, you may contact us at 540 635 0730.  You may also contact us via email at one of the following email accounts:

Jodie Barnett PT, DPT – jbarnett@valleyhealthlink.com

Katlyn Painter PTA – kwall@valleyhealthlink.com

Stacy Deering PT – sdeering@valleyhealthlink.com

 

Hampton Roads Support Group

Monthly support group meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month.

Location: Panera Bread
KempsRiver Crossing shopping center
1397 Fordham Drive
(between Indian River and Kempsville Roads)
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Date/Time: Second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitator is Myra Holt.

Myra Holt has worked in the medical field for over 30 years. She loves working for doctors and helping in the field of clinical nursing. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease and babesia. She encourages patients to attend support group meetings as part of their journey to find wellness. Along the way, she discovered that giving others hope helps in her own recovery.

For more information, contact Myra Holt at mlholt13@gmail.com, (757) 681-7435.

Lexington Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Monthly support group meetings are held on the third Saturday of the month.

Location:
Hillel House
117 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450

Time:  10:00 a.m. to noon

The meeting is facilitated by Ellen Douty.

Ellen’s background in teaching, marketing, and business serve her well for leading and supporting Lyme patients and caregivers. Having had Lyme for almost 20 years, she is passionate about Lyme support. Ellen can be contacted at ellen.douty@gmail.com.

 

Loudoun County Support Group

Monthly support group meetings are held on the fourth Sunday of the month.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location: DryHome Roofing & Siding
45921 Maries Rd
Sterling, VA 20166

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitator is Jaclyn O’Brien.

Jaclyn became an advocate for Lyme disease awareness after being misdiagnosed for a year and recognizing that many others are in a similar situation suffering from the disease. Jaclyn strives to offer support and to help those suffering, as well as to help their loved ones understand Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. She actively seeks to create awareness, educate, and encourage others to become their own advocate.

Jaclyn always welcomes the opportunity to talk with others about Lyme disease. She can be reached at jaclyn@keylyme.org or (908) 672-5652. Alternatively, you can check out the chapter’s Meet-up site at https://www.meetup.com/Loudoun-LymeAdovcates, which will allow you to RSVP for the meetings and then receive email reminders.

 

 

Richmond Area Support Group

Support group meetings are temporarily cancelled until further notice.

Please contact NatCapLyme at natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org, or by phone at (703) 821-8833 for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Shenandoah Valley Support Group

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Monthly support group meetings are temporarily suspended until further notice.

For more information please contact NatCapLyme at natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org or call 703-821-8833.

Southwest Virginia Support Group

The contact for this region of Virginia is Mauricia Shanks. Mauricia runs a thriving dog and cat grooming business in Pearisburg, Virginia. Bitten by an infected tick in 2009, Mauricia became the Erin Brockovich of Southwest Virginia, fighting to get her Lyme case reported by local and state health officials. Her persistent and passionate advocacy for Lyme and tick-borne diseases made Mauricia the first reported case of Lyme in Giles County, Virginia. Thanks to her precedent, many cases have been reported in the Southwest region of Virginia.

She can be reached at mjpetgrooming@yahoo.com, or (540) 921-2836.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Washington, D.C. Support Groups

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is concerned with the physical, emotional and social impact on people and their families diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A network of NatCapLyme chapters in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland offers meetings, events and education. Support groups vary in their focus with emphasis on support, education and social gatherings. If you are seeking a support group check our listings to the left.

Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital Support Group

Monthly support group meetings of the Washington, D.C. flagship chapter take place the first Sunday of the month, with the exception of January, July, and September.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to COVID, NatCapLyme will conduct virtual on-line support group meetings, via ZOOM, until it is safe to meet in person. Please contact the chapter leader listed below to get the next date, time and ZOOM credentials to attend these virtual support meetings or check our website’s upcoming events https://natcaplyme.org/get-involved/#events.  As always, you can call our main hotline at 703-821-8833 for more information.

 

Location: Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital,
New Medical Building, Room 2
5215 Loughboro Road, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-2634

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

View upcoming Chapter Meetings.

The meeting facilitators are Monte Skall and Kathy Boileau.

Monte Skall is a co-founder and executive director of NatCapLyme. Drawing upon her years of teaching experience, Monte has devoted her time and efforts to educating the public about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. She is an advocate for the advancement of research to help all people suffering from this disease. Monte can be reached at (703) 821-8833, or at natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org.

Kathy has been on the NatCapLyme board of directors since 2001 and has shared her expertise in Lyme disease treatment and diagnosis at many support group meetings. Kathy worked as a registered nurse at Inova Fairfax Hospital for more than 15 years before being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1998. Always available to talk and help others, Kathy can be reached by phone at (703) 464-0677, or by email at KMBoileau@verizon.com.

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