Getting a herpes diagnosis can bring up shame, fear, and a deep sense of isolation — but it doesn’t have to define you, and you don’t have to face it alone.

This in-person therapy group is for women navigating the emotional impact of herpes who want a space to talk, connect, and heal. Many of the women who join are smart, thoughtful, and successful — but still feel stuck in shame, afraid to date, or unsure of how to move forward. They often worry they won’t relate to the others in the group — and are surprised by how much they do.

I’ve led this group for years and have seen how transformative it can be. There’s power in being in a room with people who get it — who can laugh with you, hold space for your pain, and reflect back your worth when you’re struggling to see it.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. There is hope, and it begins with connection.

What the Group Is

This is a weekly, in-person therapy group for women who want a safe space to explore the emotional experience of having herpes and connect with others who truly understand.

What We Explore Together

• The emotional impact of a genital herpes diagnosis

• Shame, self-worth, and internalized stigma

• How and when to talk about herpes with potential partners

• Dating and intimacy after diagnosis

• Reconnecting with confidence, desire, and self-trust

• Building community and reducing isolation

• Diagnosis experiences, symptoms, treatments, facts

Who The Group Is For

You might worry that others won’t be like you at all. You might worry there will be someone in the room who knows you. Although you might desire to talk about it with others who get it, another part of you might want to ignore it for as long as possible.

I hope to assuage your fears because being a part of a group where others share your experience and are in many ways just like you can actually help you feel more like yourself again. It can remind you that herpes is something that can happen when people do normal things and that it happens to other normal, smart, amazing women just like you.

Who You’ll Find In the Room

• Professional women in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s.

• Women with a new or prior diagnosis that they feel is still having an impact on their life by limiting their ability to live in a full way (i.e. avoiding dating, avoiding disclosure, affecting how they feel about themselves, etc.)

• Women who appreciate internal reflection and personal growth.

• Women who want to work through their thoughts and feelings in a private setting with other women who are committed to understanding and growth.

• Women who want to work on their self-esteem and confidence

• Women who want to work on their relationship patterns (such as increasing confidence, choosing emotionally available partners, or exploring their attachment style).

• Women who also want to support other women in their process and will commit to showing up for both themselves and others.

• Women who can generally commit to a weekly group, barring an emergency, illness, or occasional vacation.

A Safe, Comfortable Space

I aim to create a safe space where women come to get support and work on their personal growth, a space where education empowers you, where you can become more at ease with yourself and with others. This is a group for women who do not want to settle, for women who want to have hope and want to feel confident again. It is a space to experience growth in your confidence and self-esteem at your core, where herpes is only a catalyst. My hope is for you to be able to see herpes as just something you have to deal with from time to time and not synonymous with who you are. This might feel impossible right now, but many people are able to eventually feel that herpes is no longer something that preoccupies their thoughts.

When Does the Group Meet?

When: Mondays

Time: 6-7:30pm

Where: In person, at my private office in Murray Hill, Manhattan, near Grand Central Station on East 35th St. and Lexington Ave.

Fee: $75 per session

If you’re curious about joining or want to know if it’s a good fit, I’d love to talk with you. Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation.

Personal growth is a life long effort and we often experience opportunities to do important work and make meaningful progress during certain challenges and transitions in our lives. I hope this can be one of those moments in your life.