We offer peer-to-peer support for parents whose teens and young adults are dealing with mental health issues. Attend one of our three monthly virtual meetings and discover a caring and comforting community.
Upcoming Support Groups
Parents of Teens (10 to 18 years)
Monthly Peninsula Parent Support Group
Sundays: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Virtual (online)
Next Meeting Dates (click date to register)
Monthly East & North Bay Parent Support Group
Saturdays: 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Virtual (online)
Next Meeting Dates (click date to register):
Parents of Older Teens and Young Adults (18 to 38 years)
Monthly Greater Bay Area Parent Support Group
Tuesdays: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Virtual (online)
Next Meeting Dates (click date to register):
We suggest a $10 donation for Family Sanity Meetings to help cover our administrative costs. Please contact founder Lisa Scimens to request financial assistance lisascimens@gmail.com.
Our Family Sanity Partner also offers monthly meetings you may want to attend:​​
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SF Parent Support Virtual Support Group
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More info on groups at namisf.org
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To sign up for a support group, go to namisf.org/familysupport
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For a link to meetings, as well as to join their online parent community forum, please contact: lisaeltinge@aol.com.
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Parenting Blogs
Family Secret
When your child first started to show questionable behavior that you thought might mean some form of mental illness, did you tell your friends or family? Were you embarrassed? Were you afraid your child (and you) would become stigmatized? That is a case for so many of us, including a long-time Family Sanity member who blogs under the name Spicy Soul Mama. Here she talks about her “Family Secret.”
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In The News
Family Sanity supports parents of children facing mental health challenges
"Family Sanity, which supports parents whose teens and young adults are facing mental health challenges, has relocated to Sonoma" ​
From Our Founder
My Alter Ego
Some of you may know this….
My favorite creative outlet in painting. I rekindled this childhood passion about 20 years ago and it plays an important connection to Family Sanity.
Here’s the latest link:
We are launching our first Family Sanity Summer Fundraiser.
If you value the help we have been providing families of teens/tweens and young adults for nearly a dozen years, please donate whatever you can by simply clicking the Donate button on the top right corner of this page.
Our operating costs have grown considerably in the first half of this year. You may recall that we acquired Willows in the Wind in January. Thus the size of our non-profit organization has tripled. It truly is a volunteer run organization. Our facilitators, our parent coach, and I all work without compensation.But, our administrative costs have increased greatly. (One example is the cost of liability insurance is now $3k annually.)
We haven’t held fundraising drives in the past. Most of our income has come from the sale of my paintings and our annual Pumpkin-Succulent sales. This has been a fun, creative way to benefit our organization, but it is no longer enough.
Our goal for this summer is to raise $5,000. I decided we would try the public television model for fundraising where there is a gift for donations at certain levels. For donations over $500, you can choose one of the three canvas-wrapped prints of my recent paintings that you see below. And for donations of $100 or more, you will receive a mug featuring my artwork.
If you prefer to send a check rather than donate online, please send it to:​
Family Sanity
482 Saunders Dr.
Sonoma, CA 95476
Our Tax ID is: 82-3381906
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Lisa Scimens
Family Sanity Founder
"Santa Fe Inspiration" by Lisa Scimens
Parenting Solutions for Every Stage
Feeling Stuck?
Family Sanity has a parent coach who can help.
Hi, my name is Sarah. I’m a certified parent coach and support group facilitator with Family Sanity. The parents of complicated teens and young adults I meet often tell me they feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or hopeless. It doesn’t have to be that way.
I’m here to guide you through challenging times.
Whatever struggles your child is facing—school refusal, substance use, delayed adulting—together we’ll create strategies and build your parenting toolkit to address these issues effectively.
Three Ways to Work With Sarah:
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Personalized Parent Coaching
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Drop-in Laser Coaching 2x monthly
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Parenting Book Club
For more information:
Email me: sarahmackaycoaching@gmail.com
Or sign up for a FREE 25-minute consultation
Website: Sarah MacKay Coaching
I look forward to meeting you! - Sarah