Creating Bonds: An 8-Week Support Group for Parents of Youth with Chronic Pain

Creating Bonds is an eight-week program designed for parents and caregivers of children, teens, or young adults navigating chronic pain and other medical, developmental, or emotional challenges. Limited to eight participants, this intimate group provides a safe and supportive space to connect with others who understand the unique struggles of parenting in these circumstances.

Moderated by a therapist specializing in chronic pain disorders, sessions focus on effective parenting strategies, mindfulness practices, and self-care techniques to help parents stay healthy and resilient. The group fosters a deep sense of understanding and camaraderie, eliminating the need to explain the isolation and stress of supporting a child in medical and emotional distress—everyone in the group simply gets it.

Over the 8-week journey, parents and caregivers form meaningful connections and lasting bonds. Many participants continue their journey of support by joining the monthly Parent CHYPchat, ensuring those connections remain strong. Some even forge lifelong friendships that extend well beyond the group.

Spaces in Creating Bonds are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Because of the program's popularity, a waitlist is always active. If you're interested, early registration is encouraged to secure your spot.

If you’re looking for expert guidance and a compassionate community of parents who truly understand, the Creating Bonds group offers the connection and tools you need during this challenging time.

Join the waitlist for the next cohort of Creating Bonds.

Rules of Engagement

CHYP provides an evidence-based, 8-week program consisting of weekly Zoom video sessions for a small group of parents and caregivers who have children or young adults with chronic pain. The Creating Bonds series is led by board certified pain psychologist, Samantha Levy, PhD. 

1. Please remember that everyone’s pain journey, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment is different. What works for you may not work for others, and vice versa. This is not meant to be a therapeutic intervention or medical treatment, and no medical or specific clinical advice is meant to be distributed.
   1. Be respectful, responsible, and appropriate with your use. This is a judgment and intolerance free space.
      a. DO NOT: Bully, harass, disrespect, exploit, bash, troll, or be rude, offensive, cruel, or graphic.
      b. Refrain from content (e.g. language, pictures, or jokes) that is inappropriate, foul, abusive, or suggestive.
      c. This organization and online community does not have any religious or political affiliation (all are welcome!). Out of respect for differing beliefs that can trigger others, please refrain from those types of comments/content.
      d. Try to stay on-topic and relevant.
      e. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If your comment/response is not positive or supportive, think twice about posting, or speaking. This is a frustrating time for everyone. While venting is part of the process, we want to encourage positivity and support.
2. What happens in group, stays in group! Please be respectful of other group members’ private information.
3. Although there will be an adult moderating the discussion, this is not meant to be a therapeutic intervention or medical treatment. This is solely an opportunity to feel connected to peers during this challenging time.
4. No selling, soliciting, promoting, advertising, spamming, or fundraising for profit.
5. This is a vulnerable population. We understand that chronic pain is linked to mental health (like depression and anxiety). However, self-harm/suicidal comments or threatening comments (to self or to others) will not be acceptable topics of discussion and the individual/comments may be removed. This community is not an emergency service. If you feel like you or someone else is in danger, please call “911.”
6. If you have a concern or question about what you or others are discussing, please feel free to reach out to the CHYP team (admin@mychyp.org).
7. If you have questions about any content you encounter through CHYP, please consult with your own doctors and clinicians. Exposure to everything through CHYP is purely educational and should be processed with a professional. Information provided through this service is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content available through CHYP is for general purposes only. 

Data Privacy Notice

Please note that CHYP may record the conversations and related video so they can be shared with our audience, and those who are not directly involved may still be able to benefit from this “round table discussion.” We discourage you from sharing personal information (last names, phone numbers, social media accounts, addresses, etc.) and sensitive information (medical or clinical advice or diagnoses). However, we may collect and use in Media Publications the following information, as disclosed in the authorization form you signed permitting us to use this information:

• First name (or alias);
• Image(s);
• Voice;
• Diagnosis (optional); and
• Testimonials.

If you have a concern or question about what you or others are sharing, please feel free to reach out to the CHYP team (admin@mychyp.org).

I am mindful that my feedback and other contributions to this Creating Bonds group will be used to support CHYP’s mission. This may include my first name (or alias), age, writings, photographs, videos, audios, and more to be used throughout CHYP media. I am aware that my participation in CHYP activities is voluntary.

I have read through and agree to the rules of engagement. I know that the Zoom is an independent program that will be using as a tool to collaborate and share ideas. I understand this is an optional method of communication that I do not have to use, but if I am added to this group, I agree to all of the above rules.