The NEW JERSEY SELF-HELP GROUP CLEARINGHOUSE was started in 1981 as the first statewide operation of its kind in the country. The mission of the Clearinghouse is to help people find and form all types of self-help support groups in order to provide hope, strength and experience to those in need in order to not feel alone.
INFORMATION ON SELF-HELP SUPPORT GROUPS – We maintain an extensive database of self-help group meetings statewide, as well as over 1,000 national self-help group headquarters, online and telephone groups, and networks.
IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS ON DEVELOPING GROUPS – Many new groups are started each year with the assistance of the Clearinghouse. Our staff can help you with ideas and suggestions over the phone and through email or “snail mail”. We have a vast library of how-tos on starting and running groups in general, as well as specific types of groups.
TRAINING – We offer periodic workshops throughout the state on topics of interest to those starting, running and maintaining support groups.
PRESENTATIONS ABOUT SUPPORT GROUPS – We provide free presentations on the availability and benefits of self-help support groups and how they can assist your clients, customers, congregants, families and friends.
WEBSITE – We include information of interest to group leaders, professionals who make referrals to groups, to those interested in starting new groups, and the general community. We also have contact information on support groups in New Jersey on our website at www.NJGroups.org
ADDICTIONS AND COMPULSIONS
Alcoholism, substance addiction, co-occurring issues (formerly called “dual diagnosis” or MICA), gambling, overeating, shopping, overspending, smoking, nicotine, adult children of alcoholics, gaming, codependency, sex and love addiction and families of those experiencing or recovering substance use or other addiction issues, grandparents raising grandchildren due to addiction.
EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Anxiety, depression, bipolar, post-partum, mental health peer groups, schizophrenia, suicidal ideation, families of persons with mental illness, eating disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive diagnosis or tendencies, hoarding disorder or tendencies, trauma, panic attacks, anger, self-harm and general mental health
BEREAVEMENT
Loss of a parent, miscarriage, abortion, infant death, loss of a child, suicide of a loved one, loss to an addiction, loss to an overdose, loss of a marital or domestic partner, loss of a loved one to homicide, general grief, bereaved children
CHRONIC ILLNESS & HEALTH ISSUES
Alzheimer’s, dementia, COVID, cancer, cardiac, chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, chronic pain, lupus, respiratory, AIDS, HIV+, herpes, allergies, aphasia, multiple sclerosis, kidney, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma, stroke, Hepatitis, Tourette syndrome, organ transplant, brain tumors, muscular dystrophy, ostomy, polio, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, Huntington’s disease, infertility, chronic fatigue, diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, laryngectomy, burn victims, tinnitus, other liver disease, chronic illness or chronic pain in general, over 400 rare illnesses
DISABILITIES
Physical disabilities, attention deficit disorder/ADHD in children and adutls, amputation, developmental disabilities, hearing impaired, visual impairments, brain injury, parents of children with disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy
FAMILY AND PARENTING ISSUES
Childbirth, parenting, adoption, single parents, step-parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, parents of multiples, infertility, divorce and separation, infidelity, marriage, fostering, parenting of teens, well spouses, breastfeeding, pregnancy, parents of troubled or out-of-control children
ABUSE
Child sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, incest, sexual assault, rape, spousal abuse, domestic violence, victims of bullying
ADDITIONAL POPULATIONS & LIFE SITUATIONS
Veterans, first responders, caregivers, men, women, non-binary individuals, nonconforming gender issues, LGBTQIA+, crime victims, unemployment, youth, re-entry from being incarcerated, aging, veterans, artists, short stature, racial and cultural discrimination, former cult members, retirement, Holocaust survivors, stuttering, spirituality, body image issues
