The Bedside Book Club for Chronic Illness & Body Grief

Open for Enrollment
Our Next Cohort Begins on July 13th! 
We'll be "Reading" This is Body Grief by Jayne Mattingly (reading is *always* optional!)

About The Bedside Book Club & Support Group
We’re a cohort-based support group for folks navigating body grief, medical trauma, disability, recovery from major physical transitions (e.g., surgery, job loss, pregnancy), body image struggles, and chronic illness. 

We might be a good fit for you if 1) you’re seeking a weekly space beyond your individual therapy or counseling sessions, and/or 2) you want to further understand the emotional weight of existing in an often hostile and physically demanding world. Our weekly meetings will explore additional themes like:
  • What does it mean to thrive/survive with a body in 2026?
  • navigating medical gaslighting & ableism
  • reconnecting with physical confidence
  • finding purpose and beauty in stillness and rest
The “No-Pressure” Promise
  • Reading is Optional: Join even if you haven't read a single page. Every week, a brief verbal summary will be presented before the group discussion begins.
  • Presence Over Productivity: Your attendance matters more than reading comprehension. Join us lying down, or snuggle up on the couch; group participation is valid exactly as needed for that day.
Commitment & Calendar
  • Weekly Mondays @ 12-1 pm Pacific (UTC+7); our next cohort starts on July 13th at 12noon Pacific. We chose this time to honor gentle transitions, daily rhythms, and time zones. 
  • We ask for your commitment to one full book cycle (approx. 10-12 weeks) to foster trust and relational depth among group members. This works out to roughly one book chapter per week and allows the group to go deeper than surface-level, drop-in support. 
  • Arriving a little late? We’ll welcome you warmly, no questions asked.
  • Once this book is finished, you’re welcome to drop out, re-up for the next book cohort, or jump back in whenever you feel ready!
Our next cohort of The Bedside Book Club will follow the book This is Body Grief by Jayne Mattingly for 12 weeks:
  • July 13th: Orientation & Hello’s
  • July 20th: Introduction 
  • July 27th: Chapter One, Naming Your Body Grief
  • August 3rd: Chapter Two, The Role of Perceived Body Betrayal
  • August 10th: Chapter Three, Dismissal, I Am Not Okay
  • August 17th: Chapter Four, Shock, This Is Really Happening
  • August 24th: Chapter Five, Apology, Sorry for Being Me
  • August 31st: Chapter Six, Fault: Playing the Blame Game
  • September 7th: Chapter Seven, Fight, At War with What Is
  • September 14th: Chapter Eight, Hoplessness/Hope, There is A Way Forward (Voting on Next Book!)
  • September 21st: Chapter Nine Body Trust, I Believe in Me
  • September 28th: Conclusion & Celebrations (Joining Next Cohort?)
Financial Accessibility
  • This support group operates on a suggested sliding scale of $20–$45 per week for the duration of your cohort commitment. Jupiter Pines Counseling believes mental health should be financially accessible, delivered with ethical transparency and professional standards. Please mention your sustainable price point during your initial consult, no questions asked. :-)
  • Your payment method (credit/debit/HSA/FSA) is stored with your client file and automatically charged after each group’s scheduled meeting. Please note: While attendance is not mandatory (see below), once your book cohort begins, scheduled payments for group meetings are non-refundable, as this honors the time and resources reserved for your seat.
Who’s Invited?
  • Global Community: Open to anyone with internet access, regardless of your time zone or location. Invite your friends!
  • Language: Conversations are conducted in English (please note: we do not offer translation services).
  • All Identities: A secure space for people of all gender expressions and identities.
  • Accessibility: Designed for diverse physical abilities. If you can log into a secure video platform, you can participate. We welcome those who may need to rest, lie down, or use assistive technology during the session (a closed captioning feature is available).
Group Agreements
  • Co-Creation & Collaboration: Members vote on the next book selection and help shape our group agreements.
  • Respect Confidentiality: We protect the vulnerability of our space in the following ways… 1) We do not record sessions or use any AI tools. This is true for the facilitator *and* group members. 2) Your facilitator is bound by HIPAA and is a mandated reporter in the State of Washington. 3) Group members are asked to respect confidentiality by anonymizing any information discussed with others outside the group.
  • (Self)-Care Affirming: Missing a group meeting due to illness or fatigue is an act of self-care, not a failure to self or to the group. We will simply miss you! 
  • Resource-Sharing: Everyone will have access to a password-protected landing page with a written summary of general themes and resources discussed during the meetings.
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INTERESTED? HAVE QUESTIONS? WANT TO JOIN US? 
  • Book a complimentary consult call by scheduling a very chill 20-minute chit chat here: https://jupiterpines.com/appointments

Topics: Chronic Pain or Illness

For: Adults, Men, Women, LGBTQ+, Seniors

Emily Ann Peterson
Emily Ann Peterson
MBA, MS-CMHC, LMHCA-pending
Counselor

Online Group

Group Type: Fixed Cohort

Group Meets:
  • Monday
Start Time: 12 pm America/Vancouver
End Time: 1
Duration: 60 minutes
Schedule: Weekly
Cost: $45
Group Size: 6-15
Next Start: Jul 13, 2026

Payment: Sliding Scale

Available in: Washington

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