Parent Support Group and Teen Coping Group for Seizures
Helping Families Deal With Epilepsy
When a child is diagnosed with an illness, it affects every member of his family. That’s why the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Epilepsy Center offers support groups for both parents and children who are dealing with epilepsy.
Parent Support Group
The group provides participants with information, education, resource sharing opportunities, emotional support and a chance to talk with other parents. Each meeting features a guest speaker. This group is facilitated by Kathy Braden, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Jennifer Ganote, Nurse Clinical Coordinator, both from the Children’s Epilepsy Center. Braden has experience working with families who have a loved one diagnosed with a chronic, disabling or life-threatening medical condition. Ganote has an extensive background in neurosciences and epilepsy and is available to assist in understanding the medical aspects of care.
Teen Coping Group
The group helps adolescents, teenagers and young adults understand and cope with the medical, social and psychological effects of having epilepsy. Participants are between the ages of 13 and 22. We may change the age range in the next few months to ages 7-13 year olds who can handle process groups/discussions about their seizure disorder. The group format relies on peer interaction, support and communication. The group is led by Tom Burns, M.D., Director of Neuropsychology, or an associate from Children’s at Scottish Rite.
Time and Location
The groups meet the third Thursday of every month, with a summer break in June and July. A catered dinner is served at 6 p.m. for all attendees. The support groups for parents and teenagers run simultaneously from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The meetings are in the second floor conference room at Children’s at Scottish Rite, 1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE.
Contact
Kathy Lynn Braden, LCSW
Neurophysiology Social Worker/Children’s Epilepsy Center
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
kathy.braden@choa.org
404-785-3034
