Group Therapy for Women in NYC Navigating Life After a Herpes Diagnosis
This group is for professionals in their 20s and 30s.
It’s a private, confidential group that meets weekly for 8 weeks after work.
All members meet with me one-on-one before we mutually decide if the group will be a good fit.
You will begin and end with the same group of women. There is no “drop in” attendance. You will grow familiar with the others in the group.
This group is for women who want to learn, grow, and move forward and who do not want to let this diagnosis get in the way of their life.
Being at ease with your body again is possible!
I know you need time to heal from the news. But just know that confidence, feeling desirable, dating, sex, romantic relationships, these are all things you can still have.
*Not ready for a group, that’s ok. Individual therapy is also available.
What is this group like?
Many women who are curious about this private group wonder if there are other women like themselves who are going through the same thing. They don’t want to feel alone and they long to talk with others who “get it.”
But coming to a group like this can also feel like an act of courage.
What will the other women be like? Will I relate to them? Will they understand me? Are there stories like mine? What about my privacy?
Many of my clients who have attended this group have told me the relief they felt when they walked in the room and realized that the other women were just like them, that they were beautiful, accomplished, intelligent, and also desired to move forward.
I know it might feel like it, but you are not alone.
This 8-week, in-person therapy group is for women navigating the emotional impact of a herpes diagnosis who want a space to talk, connect, and heal. You meet each week in a private space with the same small group of women whose stories you will come to know.
You will support each other, learn from each other, and be guided through conversation that helps you make progress.
Many of the women who join are smart, thoughtful, psychologically-minded, and want to have the courage to enjoy their bodies again, feel proud of themselves, date, have sex, and experience fulfilling romantic relationships.
I’ve led this group for many years and have seen how transformative it can be. There’s power in being in a room with women 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 connection can be very healing.
What to Expect
This is a weekly, in-person therapy group for women who want a safe space to explore the emotional experience of receiving a herpes diagnosis and connect with others who truly understand.
What We Explore Together
The emotional impact of a genital herpes diagnosis
Diagnosis experiences, symptoms, treatments, facts
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
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.
But 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 (have sex) 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 and 30s.
Women with a new or prior diagnosis that they feel is 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: Group meets at a time that accommodates typical work schedules. Day and time are shared during the free consultation to protect the privacy of group members.
Where: In person, at my private office in Murray Hill, Manhattan, near Grand Central Station on East 35th St. and Lexington Ave.
How Many Sessions: The group usually meets for approximately 8 sessions with the same cohort of women. You will get to know the other women in the group. The group does not allow for drop-in attendance. I aim to create a safe space for the members.
Fee: $75 per session ($525 for 8 sessions, paid in advance)
How Do I Learn More? 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.
If we decide on the phone that the group seems like it will be a good fit, we will meet for a one-on-one appointment. I meet with every potential member of the group individually so that we can mutually determine if the group will be the right fit for you.
Personal growth is a lifelong 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy for Women with Herpes
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An initial commitment of 8 weeks is expected. This ensures an emotionally safe and consistent environment for everyone. However, I understand that joining a group can feel intimidating. You may feel unsure or worried about whether you will like or relate to the others in the group. Before you attend the group, we will have a phone consultation and a complimentary in-person session to help you decide whether the group is a good fit. If after your initial group session, you feel the group is not what you expected, you will have an opportunity to discontinue.
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Meeting others like you who share your experience can be tremendously healing and helpful. Being able to talk with others about how you feel and what you are currently struggling with or have questions about can help you feel more grounded. When you walk into a room and see others who look like you and have stories like yours, it can be very reassuring.
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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 ease those 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.
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My therapy group for women with herpes is about more than adjusting to a herpes diagnosis; it’s about improving your self-esteem, your ability to speak up for what you need and want, your sense of agency, and having more satisfying relationships with both yourself and others.
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Contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about how group therapy can help you start feeling better. I will ask a little about you and what you hope to get out of the group and can answer any questions you have. If we both think the group might be a good fit, we will schedule an in-person individual session before you sign-up for the group.
In the individual session, I will spend time learning more about you, your experiences, and your concerns. You will have an opportunity to see what working with me is like, and I can help you to make a final decision about whether to move forward with the group. If you do decide to move forward with the group, this session will help me to know you better and support you as an individual in the group.
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I also offer individual therapy if you don’t quite feel ready for a group right now.
COUNSELING SERVICES - WHO I HELP
You may look like you’re holding it all together — but inside, you feel anxious, stuck, or uncertain about how to move forward. Maybe you're tired of overthinking, tired of performing, tired of feeling like it’s all on you. In therapy, we’ll create space for you—your real feelings and your real thoughts and worries about what is going on. Together, we can explore the deeper patterns that affect your self-worth, relationships, sexuality, and confidence — and help you reconnect with or define your values so you can move forward with more clarity, agency, and trust in yourself.
A herpes diagnosis can feel isolating, overwhelming, and disorienting. But it doesn't have to define you. I offer a compassionate space to process the shock, shame, and confusion — and to help you reconnect with your sense of self, sexuality, and self-worth. Whether this is all new or something you’ve been quietly carrying for years, you don’t have to face it alone.
Learn more about counseling for women with herpes, counseling for men with herpes, or the therapy group for women with herpes.
Sexuality is deeply personal — and often layered with thoughts, feelings, fears, and desires we’ve never spoken aloud. You may be struggling with low desire, pain during sex, difficulty achieving orgasm, performance anxiety, or changes related to perimenopause or menopause. You may simply want to understand yourself more fully. I offer a supportive, nonjudgmental space to explore these concerns at your own pace — wherever you are in your journey.