Pain Support and Wellness Groups

Pain Support and Wellness Groups offer an opportunity for people living with persistent pain to meet regularly and build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. Groups are free to access and meet online twice a month. Each two-hour session will allow you to share your experiences, discuss self-management skills and take part in gentle movements as a group.

Pain Support and Wellness Groups are for BC residents only.

Joining an online Pain Support and Wellness Group can help you:

  • Feel connected to a supportive community
  • Be seen, heard, and supported exactly as you are
  • Connect with people who understand what it takes to live with pain
  • Talk openly and honestly about your life with pain in a safe and confidential environment
  • Feel more empowered
  • Learn new information about pain and coping
  • Increase confidence and skills to live well with pain
  • Feel that you belong
  • Feel hopeful and energized
  • Socialize and have a good time!

Frequently asked questions

How do I register to attend?

Pain Support and Wellness Groups are free but they require registration. To register for a group, simply click the “Register now” button for the group you would like to attend. The link will take you to a registration page, where you can select which meeting(s) you would like to attend for the region you have selected. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to join the group by Zoom from your computer, smartphone or tablet, or by calling in from your telephone.

How do I access an online meeting?

At the scheduled group start time, simply click on the link or dial the phone number provided in your registration email. To access an online meeting by computer, smartphone or tablet, you have the option to connect via the free Zoom videoconferencing app or directly through your web browser. We recommend downloading the app because the web browser version has limited functionality. If you choose to connect via web browser, we recommend using the Chrome browser. More information about getting started with Zoom is available here.

To access an online meeting by phone, simply dial the phone number and, when prompted, enter the meeting ID provided in the registration confirmation email a few minutes before the meeting start time.

Please note: The username you choose when registering with Zoom will be visible to all other members in attendance. If you wish to remain anonymous, choose a username that does not include your real name.

What can I expect at a group meeting?

Pain Support and Wellness Groups are intentionally kept small – with up to 15 participants for each meeting – so that everyone can have a chance to share and feel supported and heard.

Group facilitators are peers – people who have lived experience with pain. Trained peer facilitators ensure every member is respected and heard. Active participation is voluntary; there is no pressure to share and speak – listening participation is very welcome. The online meeting will open 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the session and the meeting will start on time. To maximize your time at the meeting and minimize disruptions for group members, please log in before the scheduled start time. The duration of the meeting will be 120 minutes, including a short break.

We co-create the group together following a suggested group meeting structure:

  1. Welcome, facilitator introductions, Pain BC and Pain Support and Wellness Group introductions
  2. Participant introductions and brief check-in
  3. Presentation of educational materials on selected topic
  4. Group discussion and sharing on the topic
  5. Discussion wrap-up
  6. Mindful relaxation and closing

 

How do I cancel my registration for a session?

Because space is limited, we respectfully request that participants attend all sessions for which they register. If you need to cancel a reserved spot, please email supportgroups@painbc.ca with as much advance notice as possible so that the place can be made available to someone on the waitlist.

How is the waitlist managed? 

Once registration for a meeting session has reached capacity, all new registrants will be placed on the waitlist. We will offer any newly available group session spots to people on the waitlist in the order they joined the list.

Why are groups regional? Can I join a region outside of where I live?

We offer regional Pain Support and Wellness Groups to allow participants to form networks with people in their local communities, but all groups provide an equal opportunity for people in pain to connect, learn about pain management and share coping strategies.

You are welcome to register for a group outside of your region if the date and time work better for you, if there is no group available for your region, if the group you planned to attend is full, or if you prefer to join another group.

Register

Register in two easy steps:

Step one: Read our guidelines and agreement

All registrants must read and agree to the terms of the Pain Support and Wellness Group Comfort Agreement at registration. Read the agreement here. You will be asked to agree to these terms at registration.

We also ask that you agree to the following guidelines:

  • When you register, you will receive a link to attend the group by Zoom videoconference. Please do not share this link with anyone else. In order to ensure meeting confidentiality, each registrant must have an individual link and password.
  • If you know you won’t be able to join a meeting that you have registered for, please let us know by emailing supportgroups@painbc.ca as soon as possible. Most meetings have a waitlist of people who would love to join a group so they can have an opportunity to feel the support and understanding of others with pain. If you can’t use your spot, please let us know so we can pass it on to someone on our waitlist.
  • Please be on time for the meeting start time. The groups will be locked 10 minutes after the start time.

Step two: Sign up for a group

Choosing a group in your region allows you to form networks in your local community. You are welcome to register for a group outside of your region.

To register, please choose from one of the following online meetings. (Note: Registration closes 24 hours prior to each scheduled meeting.)

Fraser Valley

Fraser Valley

The Fraser Valley regional group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Kootenays

Kootenays

The Kootenays regional group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Northern BC

Northern BC

The Northern BC regional group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Okanagan/Cariboo

Okanagan/Cariboo

The Okanagan/Cariboo regional group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Vancouver Region

Vancouver Region

Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond: Group 1

The Vancouver Group 1 meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond: Group 2

The Vancouver Group 2 meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island: Group 1

The Vancouver Island Group 1 meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

Vancouver Island: Group 2

The Vancouver Island Group 2 meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00AM-1:00PM and the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM.

 

LGBTQ2S+ group

LGBTQ2S+ group

This group meets once a month on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM (Pacific Time).

Pain BC's new LGBTQ2S+ Pain Support & Wellness Group offers a community space for people who live with pain who identify as LGBTQ2S+ to meet once a month and discuss chronic pain through their experience. This is a peer-facilitated support group. We aim to create a supportive and welcoming online space where participants can show up fully as themselves. We provide participants an opportunity to learn about pain, discuss how pain is impacting life and learn coping strategies in a caring environment.

Young Adults (18 - 35)

Young Adults (18-35) group

Pain BC's new Young Adults Pain Support & Wellness Group offers a community space for young adults (Ages 18-35) living with pain to meet once a month and discuss chronic pain through their experience.

This is a peer-facilitated support group. We aim to create a supportive and welcoming online space where participants can show up fully as themselves. We provide participants an opportunity to learn about pain, discuss how pain is impacting life and learn coping strategies in a caring environment. This group meets once a month on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM (Pacific Time).

BIPOC

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour) group 

Pain BC's new BIPOC Pain Support & Wellness Group offers a community space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour who live with pain to meet once a month and discuss chronic pain through their experience.

This is a peer-facilitated support group. We aim to create a supportive and welcoming online space where participants can show up fully as themselves. We provide participants an opportunity to learn about pain, discuss how pain is impacting life and learn coping strategies in a caring environment. This group meets once a month on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:00PM-8:00PM (Pacific Time), but will be taking a break during the months of October and December.

Your privacy

Online group sessions are not recorded by Pain BC and are set up in such a way that participants cannot record the sessions using the Zoom platform. However, while we ask participants to agree not to record any portion of a group session using a personal device, we are unable to guarantee they will comply with this requirement.

Promotional materials

Health care providers, organizations and all others with an interest can order free promotional materials here.

Have a question?

Get in touch with us by email at supportgroups@painbc.ca.

Funding

Funding for this program has been provided by the Province of British Columbia.

Province of British Columbia