ASPIRE’s ChitChat Groups are free support groups offered both virtually and in-person for caregivers and adult patients living with PANS and PANDAS. They provide a welcoming space to connect, share experiences, and find support from others who understand.
Currently, ChitChats are offered in Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina/North Carolina, New York/New Jersey, Connecticut, Nebraska, and the Midwest, with more being added. We also have ChitChats that cover a wide range of topics, addressing various needs and experiences, including those of parents of adult patients, homeschooling, caregiver support, and restricted eating.
👉 Stay tuned: ASPIRE is regularly adding new ChitChat Groups in more states and communities.
Visit ASPIRE ChitChats Home Page and Register Today!
Just the FAQs
What ChitChat Groups are available?
ASPIRE offers a mix of virtual and in-person ChitChat Groups. These groups are free to attend and open to:
- Caregivers (parents, family members)
- Adult patients with PANS/PANDAS
Please note, we do not have ChitChats for pediatric patients. Our goal is to create spaces where people can connect, share experiences, and find support.
Who is leading the ASPIRE ChitChat Groups?
ASPIRE ChitChats are peer-led, supportive meetings, not professional therapy. They are facilitated by ASPIRE volunteers and community members who understand the challenges of living with PANS and PANDAS. Please see below for rules and guidelines.
ChitChats are safe, welcoming spaces where you can talk about your situation, listen to others, and give and receive support. They are a reminder that no one is alone—our community is here to walk alongside you.
ChitChat leaders and participants are not working in a professional capacity and cannot provide direct medical or legal advice.
What ChitChats are (and aren't)
ASPIRE ChitChats offer support, community, and connection. Their purpose is to provide a sense of shared experience and hope, whereas a therapy group’s focus is on treatment goals and clinical objectives.
ChitChats are peer-led, not professional-led, and the format is free-flowing and discussion-based rather than driven by specific techniques or interventions. In short, ChitChats are about what the group members need on a given day, not about following a set plan.
Can I bring someone with me to a group?
Yes, but they must also register. (For example, another caregiver in your family or another adult patient.)
Do I have to commit to attending a certain number of groups?
No. You can attend as often or as little as works for you.
How will I know if a group is canceled?
We do our best to announce cancellations or changes in advance. Updates are posted on ASPIRE’s social media channels (Facebook & Instagram) and announced in groups whenever possible.
How many people attend a ChitChat meeting?
Group size varies by location and day. On average, you can expect 5–15 participants, though sometimes there are more. There is no cap—everyone is welcome.
Do I need to register ahead of time?
Virtual ChitChats require pre-registration. For in-person ChitChat groups, we highly encourage pre-registration so we can prepare for the number of attendees. Some groups may choose to require pre-registration from time to time, but this will always be clear on the registration form.
- Virtual groups: Each group has its own unique Zoom registration link. Please save the email with the Zoom link. Please do not share the Zoom link; anyone you invite should register themselves.
- In-person groups: Please register in advance so we can prepare. However, you may simply show up, but we ask that you sign in upon arrival to register in person. If the venue requires a headcount, we will require pre-registration.
How do I join a ChitChat group?
- Virtual: Click the registration link for your chosen group, sign up, and you’ll receive the Zoom link by email. Please save this email—we do not resend links. Each registration link is unique to that group/date. If the link isn’t working, confirm you registered for the correct date/time.
- In-person: Check the schedule for location, date, and time. Arrive a few minutes early and register on-site if you have not done so in advance. Please note that some meeting locations may require a headcount ahead of time; in such cases, you must pre-register.
What if I register but can't attend?
That’s okay! Typically, there’s no need to cancel. We’ll look forward to seeing you next time. If an in-person ChitChat requires registration for headcount purposes, please get in touch with the ChitChat lead.
ChitChat Rules & Guidelines
Be Kind and Courteous – No Hate Speech or Bullying
This is a welcoming environment. Please treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated.
Respect Everyone’s Privacy
Being part of this group requires mutual trust. What’s shared in the group should stay in the group. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups informative but may also be sensitive and private. Remember that everyone’s experience is unique, and what works for one person won’t always work for another. We are all in this fight together, so let’s be supportive of each other. ASPIRE cannot guarantee participants’ privacy, so we ask participants to be mindful of what they share.
No Recording of Any Kind
This includes Audio and/or Video recordings, screenshots, and photography. Guests and participants are not allowed to record in any way without express permission by ASPIRE. If an individual violates this rule, ASPIRE will restrict them from participating in any ASPIRE forums going forward. These restrictions aim to create a safe environment for participants to share their personal information. In the event that ASPIRE would like to record a ChitChat Group Meeting, ASPIRE will require the signatures from each participant being filmed or recorded.
No Promotions or Spam
Give more than you take to this group. Self-promotion, spam, irrelevant links aren’t permitted. Sending unsolicited DMs is not allowed either.
No Personal GoFundMe Pages or Similar
We would love to allow it, but this does not work in a group setting from experience.
Must be a PANS PANDAS Patient or Caregiver/Parent
You must either be an adult with PANS/PANDAS or a parent/caregiver to at least one child with PP. If needed, we reserve the right to request a referral from another PANDAS/PANS caregiver, parent, or patient to gain entry.
We Cannot Provide Crisis Intervention or Direct Medical or Legal Advice
ASPIRE volunteers and employees are unable to provide crisis intervention services or provide direct medical or legal advice. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you or your child is feeling suicidal, unsafe or may cause harm.
ASPIRE Facebook Group
ASPIRE’s mission is to improve the lives of children and adults affected by PANS, PANDAS, and related encephalopathies. The ASPIRE Facebook group provides additional one-on-one, hive-mind support for adult patients with PANS PANDAS and parents/caregivers of PANS/PANDAS patients. Admins and moderators will not have the answers to all your questions, but we will try to help you find them. Whether you need a hug, a place to vent, a place to be excited, need information, etc., we hope you will find it here. PANS PANDAS is a rough road, and it can be incredibly isolating, but we believe that you are never alone on this journey once you have found a home. We ASPIRE to move mountains together.
1 Be Kind and Courteous – No Hate Speech or Bullying This is a welcoming environment. Please treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated.
2 Respect Everyone’s Privacy Being part of this group requires mutual trust. What’s shared in the group should stay in the group. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups informative but may also be sensitive and private. Remember that everyone’s experience is unique, and what works for one person won’t always work for another. We are all in this fight together, so let’s be supportive of each other.
3 No Promotions or Spam Give more than you take to this group. Self-promotion, spam, and irrelevant links aren’t allowed. If you are selling/promoting a product, do not send unsolicited DMs regarding the product to group members.
4 No Personal GoFundMe Pages or Similar We would love to allow it, but this does not work in a group setting from experience.
5 Must be a PANS PANDAS Patient or Caregiver/Parent You must either be an adult with PANS/PANDAS or a parent/caregiver to at least one child with PP. If needed, we reserve the right to request a referral from another PANDAS/PANS caregiver, parent, or patient to gain entry.
6 Medical Provider Protection While we want to be a resource to discuss providers, please be conscientious about making supercritical comments about providers; critical comments should be reserved for DMs. Use initials and location rather than full names.
7 We Cannot Provide Crisis Intervention or Direct Medical or Legal Advice ASPIRE volunteers and employees are unable to provide crisis intervention services or provide direct medical or legal advice. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you or your child is feeling suicidal or unsafe.
8 Don’t Block the Mods/Admins Simple.
Disclaimer
The Alliance to Solve PANS and Related Encephalopathies (ASPIRE) (“Site Owner” or “ASPIRE”) presents the information on its website as a service to Internet users. Any information provided at ASPIRE presentations, meetings, in print, on our website, or on our blog or social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or elsewhere is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. ASPIRE does not endorse specific programs, schools, treatments, diets, therapies, supplements/medications/brands, or the practices/protocols/theories of any individual/group or any other professional service/service provider, including, but not limited to legal, accounting, financial/financial planning/investing, or insurance recovery. Caregivers and patients must make their own decisions concerning any treatment, therapy, or provider. ASPIRE recommends that caregivers and patients consult with an experienced doctor or other medical professionals before commencing medical treatments for their children or themselves and consult with any other professional service provider before retaining their services. While the information on this site is about legal, medical, biomedical, educational, therapeutic, financial, and other issues, it is not professional advice. The information comes from a variety of sources and is not independently verified by ASPIRE. Moreover, due to the rapidly changing nature of information relating to PANS/PANDAS and Related Encephalopathies, ASPIRE makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of any of the content at this site or at other sites to which we link. Transmission and use of the information herein is not intended to create, and its receipt does not constitute an attorney-client relationship or any other professional-patient / client between ASPIRE and the user. No user should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information contained herein without seeking appropriate advice regarding their individual facts and circumstances in the relevant field (legal, medical, financial, etc.).