In light of the high rates of depression and anxiety that are common among those impacted by cystic fibrosis (CF), CFRI offers financial support for counseling sessions as well as several monthly support groups for the CF community (listed below). These programs address the impact of chronic illness on emotional health. Participation in these programs helps improve health and quality of life. Counseling assistance is open to the CF community nationwide, and support groups are open to the CF community across the globe.
Counseling Support to Nationwide CF Community
Children and adults with CF as well as their family members (parents, siblings, spouses/partners) are eligible to receive financial support for six individual therapy sessions per year with a licensed provider of their choice. CFRI will cover the cost of your insurance co-pay for six sessions, or pay up to $125 per session for six sessions if you have no insurance, or your provider does not accept insurance or is outside of your network. CFRI will pay the provider directly. Participants must live in the United States. You can select a licensed therapist in your community (for a referral, you can ask your CF social worker).
This program has limited funds and operates on a “first come first serve” basis. Due to high demand, the program often runs out of funding in the second half of the year. To ensure that your sessions are covered, please follow our program procedures as outlined below:
- Check in with us: BEFORE sending us any invoices, contracts, or other documents, please contact Sabine Brants (sbrants@cfri.org, 650-665-7576) to check if there is funding available for your sessions. If we have funding available, we will send the required paperwork to you as well as your chosen provider. This paperwork needs to be completed BEFORE starting CFRI-supported sessions.
- Wait for sessions to be approved: Once we receive the completed paperwork from you and the provider, we will let you know that you are approved to start your six CFRI-supported sessions. We will not accept invoices that are submitted without prior approval.
- Submit assessments and invoices: By participating in the program, patients commit to take part in two brief evaluations at the beginning and end of the CFRI-supported sessions. Invoices need to be submitted to CFRI by the provider, we do not reimburse patients. Please notify us immediately if you discontinue therapy for whatever reason so the money can be released and used to support other people with CF and their families.
For more information on how to participate in CFRI’s Counseling Support Program, please email Sabine Brants (sbrants@cfri.org.)
This program is made possible to date by support from Viatris, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and individual donors.
Online Support Groups for the CF Community
CFRI provides a number of monthly online peer-to-peer Support Groups, which are open to participants across the globe. The groups are facilitated by social workers and/or qualified CF community members.
The groups, their meeting times, and the registration pages are listed below. Please allow 3-4 hours before the meeting to register. See our event calendar for current meeting dates.
Please read our support group guidelines before attending any group.
All CFRI Support Groups are sponsored by Viatris, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and private donors.
CF Caregivers: Third Tuesday of Every Month
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford.
Two groups to choose from:
- Parents of children with CF: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PT
- Parents/Spouses/Partners of Adults with CF: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PT
Register here for the Caregivers Support Group for parents of children with CF.
Register here for the Caregivers Support Group for parents/spouses/partners of adults with CF.
Adults with CF: Third Monday of Every Month
Facilitated by Meg Dvorak, LCSW, or Kate Yablonsky, LCSW, CF Social Workers at Stanford
The group meets on the third Monday of every month, from 5:30 pm PT to 7:00 pm (8:30 pm – 10:00 pm ET).
Teens with CF: Third Wednesday of Every Month
Facilitated by Teresa Priestley, MSW, CF Social Worker at Stanford
For teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 growing up with CF. The group meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm PT (8:30 m ET). Parents must provide consent for their teenagers to attend.
For more information and to register, please email Sabine (sbrants@cfri.org).
Those Who Lost Someone with CF: First Tuesday of Every Month
Facilitated by Olin Dodson, MA
Adults and mature teens over age 16 are welcome. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 5:00 pm PT (8:00 pm ET), and provides a safe place to help experience growth in coping with the loss of a loved one.
Adults with CF Post-Transplant: Fourth Wednesday of Every Month
Facilitated by Sonya Haggett, LCSW, a social worker with CF who received a lung transplant
Please note: This group is for adults post-transplant; caregivers are welcomed to our Caregiver Support Group. The group meets at 5:00 pm PT (8:00 pm ET) on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
Register here for the Transplant Support Group.
Adults with a Late CF Diagnosis: First Wednesday of Every Month
Facilitated by Laura Mentch, EdM, and/or Jean Hanley, MD, both adults with late CF diagnoses.
The group meets at 5:00 pm PT (8:00 pm ET) on the first Wednesday of every month.
Those Who Cannot Use CFTR Modulators: Fourth Thursday of Every Month
Facilitated by Sonya Haggett, LCSW, a social worker living with CF
The group meets at 5:00 pm PT (8:00 pm ET) on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Spanish-Speaking CF Community: Second Wednesday of Every Month
Led by Marilyn Calderon, LICSW
The Spanish-speaking virtual CF community meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 6:00 pm PT (8:00 to 9:00 pm ET), and addresses the unique issues faced by Hispanic/Latinx individuals and families affected by CF. The meetings are held in Spanish and facilitated by Marilyn Calderon, LICSW.
To register, send an email to Sabine (sbrants@cfri.org).
Comunidad virtual en español: El segundo miércoles del mes
Guiado en español por Marilyn Calderon, LICSW
Comunidad virtual en español para adultos con fibrosis quística (FQ) y padres / personas que cuidan de otros con FQ. Reúnase con otras personas que entienden los desafíos causados por la FQ. La comunidad virtual se reunirá el segundo miércoles del mes de 5:00 a 6:00 pm, hora del Pacífico (8:00 a 9:00 pm, hora del Este). La reunion será guiada en español por Marilyn Calderón, LICSW.
Para registrarse, enviar un correo electrónico a Sabine (sbrants@cfri.org).
Patrocinado por Viatris, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, y donantes privados.