Want herpes support?

Zoom sessions are three times a month – FREE – see dates below. We have a new emotional support Zoom – first one is on 10th July. It is run by a psychologist who understands it. We continue to offer the ‘expert talk’ mid-week and the Zoom chat on the first Sunday of the month. Send email to [email protected] and say which date you want to join.

London-based events (in person) are on the first Saturday of the month. Plus other events, look down the page…

There was a Birmingham meeting on 30th April – for see below. Watch out for more dates. We have also had meet-ups in Bath and Edinburgh… Contact [email protected] to learn more about meetings in your area.

An Assurance Day – learning how to talk to a new partner – Saturday end August – date TBC – see below for programme.

See TABLE OF DATES below.

To register for the Zoom events, email us at [email protected] Write ‘virtual event’ and the date you want in the subject line . We will acknowledge and send you Zoom link prior to the event and answer any questions you may have. These events are open to everyone, you don’t have to be a subscriber. There is no obligation to speak or show your video during the call, but rest assured, it is confidential and others on the call will be in the same boat as you.

Zoom session testimonials:

“It was one of the few perks of the Covid situation for me. You moved the meetings to Zoom so I was able to join the support group online! It really was very useful and such a massive relief to finally meet other people in the same situation (other than the ex). I know such people exist, but meeting you makes a whole world of difference, you know?!”

“Don’t sit battling your feelings about herpes on your own, come and join our Zoom meeting and meet others, who have the same diagnosis, and chat and share your experiences or just listen. It’s not so scary, honest.”

“It’s given me a new confidence having met with lovely people from different backgrounds and different parts of the world who have the same condition as I have and are coping with it. We discuss our fears, feelings, symptoms and medication and how we have told partners. The HVA team are down to earth and honest and have put myths to rest. It’s helping me to feel normal… As we all are by the way. Oh, and we can also have a laugh as well.”

“I entered ‘how can I get herpes support?’ and yours was the listed third. I am so glad I’ve found you as you have really helped me get my head around it.”

TABLE OF EVENT DATES These are all free, unless a price is shown.

Emotional strength in the face of herpes

Psychological help:  A member of the HVA has offered to run Peer Support Circles. Being diagnosed with herpes can feel overwhelming at first. Many people experience not just physical symptoms, but also emotional challenges: anxiety, shame, confusion, or a sense of isolation. These feelings are more common than we imagine, and we find that often they reflect our personal histories, relationships, and the way we see ourselves.

That’s why a trained psychologist, who is also a member, is offering a new space within HVA: Peer Support Circles.

These events complement the Sunday morning and weekday evening Zooms that Marian offers, which are more factually based – dates on www.herpes.org.uk/events

These are small, confidential group meetings (online) where people can come together, speak openly, listen to each other, and reflect on how the diagnosis is affecting their lives. The support circles are not therapy in the formal sense; but they are deeply therapeutic. They are based on the idea that healing often begins when we feel heard, understood, and no longer alone.

Each group is gently guided by Javier, whose role is to support reflection, ask thoughtful questions, and help the group create a safe and respectful environment. But most of the work happens between participants: through mutual support, shared stories, and the courage to speak from the heart.

You don’t need to prepare anything. You don’t need to be “strong” or have the “right attitude.” You just need to show up as you are. If you’re curious or feel this might be helpful for you, we warmly invite you to get in touch and join one of our circles.

Who is it for? Anyone who feels the need to talk, listen, or simply be with others on a similar path.
When is it? At 5:10 pm – 6:00 pm on the 2^nd Thursday i.e.  10^th July, (not Aug) 11^th September etc.

How do I join? Online groups. Please email [email protected]

We look forward to welcoming you…

Meetings in person in London

Next one: Saturday, 3 May, then 7 June, 5 July and every first Saturday of the month, from 3 till 6 pm. Join us! We have found that we can discuss ‘it’ in public without hotel staff or guests being aware we are a herpes support group.

To get to the President hotel, turn left out of Russell Square tube, take the first left into Herbrand Street, and the President is ahead. Inside, turn right to the Atrium. Marian (who has all the answers about herpes) or another trained volunteer will have yellow ‘SPHERE’ sign on the table. Full address: 56-60 Guilford Street WC1N 1DB. Just walk-in and join us, no appointment necessary.

Expert talk

Once a month – mid-week. See dates on the table above.

We start with a one-hour presentation by a herpes expert. This PowerPoint will equip you with everything you need to know about the virus, with facts to make it easer to “talk to a new partner about herpes.” The second hour will be questions and answers, so you can ask about your own particular situation. It might be more beneficial that you can imagine to talk with others who understand…

Send an email to [email protected] – or just make the £15 “donation” on the https//herpes.org.uk/shop page. Put ‘expert talk‘ in the instruction box under the email address box.

Assurance Day – next one end August (to be confirmed)

Our hugely popular in depth online course – on Zoom – on how to feel confident again, learn about herpes from the experts, defeat the stigma and talk to a partner with ease, equipped with the facts. This is for members.

Course duration – one day – on Zoom.
Cost: £40 for our subscribers. You have to subscribe before you can join this event. See https://herpes.org.uk/join.

Assurance Day timetable:

10:30-11:15 – Managing recurrences, treatment and why it is so common.

11:15-11:30 – Q&A with HVA director, Marian Nicholson.

11:45-12:45 – Knowledge is power: History of the herpes stigma with herpes expert Nigel Scott.

12:45 -1:30 – Lunch break.

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1:30 – 2:30 – How to talk about it to a partner and how partners usually react (with guest speaker).

2:45 – 3:15 – The psychology and what you can do about it.

3.30 – 4:00 – ‘When to? Where to? How to?

4:00 – 4:30 – Partner notification role play (optional).

5:00 – 5:30 – Open session and recap.

Assurance Day testimonial:

“I was obviously a bit nervous but the discussions we had on the Assurance Day I attended definitely helped – and in the end the conversation was much more simple that I expected.  In case you are interested, it went something like this (on a walk after dinner):

Me: So have you ever had any STDs?

Him: No, I haven’t, have you?

Me: Yes, I had chlamydia once. And now, sometimes I get herpes.

Him: Oh, well, I had that a few times I think on my lips, but ages ago. But I don’t know if it was herpes or a cold sore. 

Me: It’s the same thing. So I sometimes have that, just in a different place. I just have to avoid sex when I have it.

Him: Ah! Ok. (Pause) That was a weird way for you to break the silence!

And then we carried on as normal!”

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This page was last updated on 24-06-2025.