This support group is created by patients for patients in the belief that together we can make a difference in the quality of our lives.

Please join us at our meetings when you can!

For a current flyer and contact information, please click on the "Meeting Schedule" link on the left of this page. Please try to rsvp if at all possible. We look forward to seeing you!

MEETING DATES FOR 2009

Conversation Group: FINDING OUR VOICES
4th Thursday of each month, 2:00-3:00 p.m.,
Argonne Public Library Conference Room, 4322 N. Argonne (at Up River Drive), Spokane Valley.
This is an intimate gathering for discussing issues and emotions, tips and humor — all related to living with dystonia.
Family/friends welcome.

Meditation Group: VIPASSANA MEDITATION
3rd Thursday of each month, 5:30-6:30 p.m.,
Buddhist Temple, 927 South Perry St., (location map), Spokane
Taught by Mary Webster of the Spokane Vipassana Meditation Community.
Learning meditation can help decrease anxiety as we confront dystonia. It can also help in every aspect of our lives
Family/friends welcome.

EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS:
2nd Thursday of each month, 1:30-3:00 p.m.,
St. Lukes Rehabilitation Institute, 711 So. Cowley St., (location map), Lower Level Board Room (unless otherwise indicated), Spokane

• Thursday, Feb. 12th, 2009
  BIOFEEDBACK & RELAXATION
  Two things your body wants to know about!
  Anthony Whitney, MS, LMHC, BCIA
  What is the benefit of relaxation and how do we learn to deeply relax? How does Biofeedback teach us to elicit a relaxation response? Come and learn.
  Family & friends welcome.
  
• Thursday, March 12, 2009, ROOM #200
  CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
  Developing Confidence & Competence in Managing Your Motor Disorder
  Ronald Klein, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
  How do we learn to adapt to living with a motor disorder?
  How can we live our lives as fully as possible? Dr. Klein will help us understand the challenges and how we can face them.
  Family & friends are welcome.
  
• Thursday, April 9, 2009
  MINDFULNESS
  The Mind/Body Connection
  Dori Langevin M.A., Psy.D.
  Find joy, clarity, and peace in the midst of life with a motor disorder…moment to moment, breath by breath.
  Family & friends welcome.
• Thursday, May 14, 2009
  TAI CHI
  Bryan Knack
  This ancient practice is a slow, gentle exercise which improves balance, fitness, concentration, relaxation and breathing. Ideal for those of us with dystonia, the flowing movements can bring a sense of freedom to our bodies and our spirits!
  Family & friends welcome.
• Thursday, June 11, 2009
  GIVING VOICE
  Music Therapy
  Sara Nielsen, m.a., ccc/slp,.
  Dystonia has ways of robbing our ability to express ourselves...through contracting our vocal cords..., through tightening other muscles which pull on our diaphragms and rob us of air..., or through the silencing effects of anxiety and a self-image battered by a noticeable movement disorder.
  Join Sara to discuss what the needs are for those of us with dystonia. Can we sing even if we “can’t sing”? Can we have fun with music as therapy? Let's see if we want to start a dystonia music program for next year.
  Family & friends welcome.
• July and August, 2009
  We will not have meetings during these two summer months.
• Thursday, September 10, 2009
  Topic to be determined
  Family & friends welcome.
• Thursday, October 8, 2009
  Massage Therapy
  Structural Integration Rolfing
  Kevin Lucas, LMT, CSI
  Structural Integration is a manual therapy that works on the fascia, the envelope that surrounds the muscles. Kevin Lucas will demonstrate how structural integration helps our muscles to move more fluidly and bring us relief.
  Family & friends welcome.
• Thursday, November 12, 2009
  Topic to be determined
  Family & friends welcome.