New Santa Cruz California Celiac Group

One of the hardest parts about leaving New York City and moving to California was leaving the NYC Celiac Meetup group. I led that group for more than a decade and many of the members became some of my best friends. I put endless hours into running that group, planning more than 300 events, and making newly diagnosed celiacs feel like they weren't alone in this gluten-filled world. I got so much out of running that group and I was sad to leave behind such a supportive community.

When I got to Santa Cruz, California, I discovered there had been two separate groups, one gluten-free group and one celiac support group. Sadly, neither group really met in person anymore nor did they know about each other. As a support group leader, I know how it feels to be burnt out. You work hard to plan plan plan and then you hope for people to show up to your events. When people don't show up, it's disappointing. When you've made reservations and have no-shows, it is embarrassing. Both of these women had been what I had been through in New York and seemed like they needed a break from their groups but were still interested. After meeting with both of them, I am hoping to join forces to revitalize the celiac disease support community and make an even bigger and better group in Santa Cruz County!

Community and support is such an important part of the celiac disease journey. I can't tell you how many people I've met over the years that tell me they felt lonely and like they were the only one in the world with celiac disease. They met just one person that they can talk about gluten-free with, and their whole perspective changes. They suddenly realize they are no longer alone and that someone understands EXACTLY what they are dealing with being on a medical gluten-free diet.

Given my own personal journey for a support community as well as the desire to help others, I created the Santa Cruz Celiac Facebook group. My plans with this group are to build both an online support system as well as coordinate in-person events for people in Santa Cruz and surrounding areas for people with celiac disease. If you or anyone you know will benefit this group, please feel free to join. In coming months, I will definitely host face-to-face events for the community. Thanks for sharing and hope to meet you all soon!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/santacruzceliac/

The Sharing the Experience of a Gluten-Free Life

The Sharing the Experience of a Gluten-Free Life
New York, NY

February 13, 2013 / 7:00 – 8:00 PM

February 27, 2013 / 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Click on the links above to RSVP. 

Curtis Brown is a psychoanalyst/psychotherapist diagnosed with celiac disease who maintains a gluten-free diet. He will be facilitating a group discussion on how it feels to be gluten-free in a world of gluten. He believes that, “like it or not we often stand out in the crowd because of our dietary needs. Navigating a safe source of food, learning the ins and outs of the diet,and feeling good about what we eat can be an emotional journey.”

Considerable focus is given to the medical and nutritional aspects of gluten-free living but many emotional challenges arealso encountered. For example, people often want to share how celiac disease or gluten-intolerance has affected his or hersocial life, dating, desire for traveling or willingness to negotiate eating out in non GF restaurants. Or, how maintaining a GFdiet has affected your family, friends and other important relationships. Others might want to explore what a reasonable levelof precaution is when attempting to adhere to a GF diet? I have heard some wonder if it ever gets easier and, if so, how longdoes it take.

Brown will lead an open discussion forum for people to gather to share their experiences while hearing of the experiences of others. The group will be open to newly diagnosed or to anyone wishing to share their experience of living gluten-free.

Brown’s website: www.curtisbrownlcsw.com devotes an entire section to the emotional challenges of living a gluten-free lifedue to celiac or gluten-sensitivity. He has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for close to 20 years. He previously was the director of a hospital-based program which provided support groups allowing him to facilitate well over 500 group sessions. He is a faculty member and supervisor for a post-masters training program in psychoanalyst / psychotherapy.

The cost for attending the group is $13 which includes the PayPal fee.

There are two opportunities to attend this event:

February 13, 2013 / 7:00 – 8:00 PM

February 27, 2013 / 7:00 – 8:00 PM