Therapy Groups

Groups for Clients: Chronic Medical Illness/Pain Group

Group is a safe place to:

Increase your understanding of your reactions to your limitations
Learn new ways to get your needs met
Improve your self-confidence and self-esteem
Discover the gift of compassion for yourself

About this Group

This supportive psychotherapy group addresses issues of hidden disabilities and chronic pain. Isolation and depression are common side-effects of chronic pain, visible and invisible illnesses. The group helps members make the most of life with limitations and add more compassion for themselves and others. It is designed for people who want to freely discuss their experiences and frustrations with others who face similar physical challenges. This group is a safe place for members to learn how to reduce the ways in which pain and physical limitations get in the way of leading a fuller life.

About the Group Leader

Ann Steiner, Ph.D., M.F.T., CGP, (Certified Group Psychotherapist), has been leading psychotherapy groups for 30 years, supervises, trains and provides consultation to therapists. She is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in private practice in Contra Costa, CA, (CA. Marriage and Family Therapist, License #ML17115, Marriage and Family Therapist New Mexico, USA, License # CMFO218881). She is a Fellow and past Board Member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, is a founding member of the American Orthopsychiatric Association's Disability Study Group, and the National Registry of Group Psychotherapists, serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, serverd for 9 years as the Co-Chair of the Health and Medical Issues Special Interest Group for the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and was president of Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society.

Dr. Steiner served as an Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California Medical School, San Francisco for fourteen years, and is on the faculty of The Psychotherapy Institute's Group Therapy Training Program. She lectures at professional meetings internationally, nationally and locally, and publishes books and articles for consumers and therapists.

Note: All of Dr. Steiner's groups are designed for individuals who have either have been in, or are currently in psychotherapy, are not in crisis, and are motivated to change. All groups are online.There are many groups that are designed to help people who are in crisis or who have different needs. For more information about short-term and other kinds of groups, see the Healing Power of Groups and Group Therapy Referral Resources.

For Further Information

For more information or to discuss whether this group might fit your particular needs, please free to call Dr. Steiner at (925) 962-0060 or send an email to her: DrSteiner@DrSteiner.com with Group Query in the subjectline, please include your phone number, and a variety of times when it would be convenient for her to return your call.