“The Covid Conscious Group was exactly what I needed as someone taking pandemic precautions without a support system. Madeleine created a wonderful space to share both grief and hope, ensuring everyone’s access needs were met, and I’ve come away with a reinvigorated sense of purpose. I cannot recommend it enough.” – testimonial from previous group participant
Who is this group for?
This group is for people (18+) who are taking precautions against Covid in their everyday life.
I’m based in the UK, if you’re in another country please do still get in touch. It depends on my insurance and your country’s regulations around therapy as to whether you’d be able to participate in the group. Unfortunately I can’t work with people in the USA or Canada.
If you’re currently in crisis with your mental health, this group won’t be a good fit for you. I have a list of UK crisis support organisations here, please reach out to them.
“You are never alone. There are others – sometimes in other countries or even on other continents – who understand what you are going through. Once you no longer feel alone, things become easier. I have met wonderful people, felt heard and seen, have received and given support, and I am deeply grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the insights I’ve gained from the sessions.” – testimonial from previous group participant
When is it?
This is an ongoing group running on Zoom every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 6-7:30pm UK time. The first session will be on 4th June 2026.
I can’t make that day or time!
I’m planning to run another group on a different day and time, if you want updates on this please sign up to my group mailing list.
How much is it?
£25 per session (£50 a month), payable by the 1st of each month.
Is there a minimum number of sessions?
An important part of therapeutic support groups is the relationship between the group members, so I ask that you commit to 4 sessions to allow this to build and to give yourself a chance to benefit from the group support.
How big will the group be?
There will be a maximum of 6 people in the group (plus me as the facilitator). The small group size allows everyone to be heard and supported. You can join at any point if there’s currently space in the group
I’ve had counselling sessions with you before, can I still join?
Yes! Previous individual counselling clients are welcome to join as long as there’s been a gap of at least a month since we finished working together. If you’ve attended one of my groups before, you’re welcome to join this one.
What topics will we talk about?
Some potential topics are:
- Self-care strategies
- Boundaries around precautions
- Stress related to decisions around risk
- Relationships with friends and family
- Building community
- Processing grief, loss and anger
- Finding purpose and meaning
I’m chronically ill and worried about having enough energy for the group.
I realise that a lot of Covid-conscious people have chronic illnesses, and I try to make the group as accessible as possible. It’s fine to attend the group from bed (as long as you’re dressed, pyjamas etc are fine), you can keep your camera off if you don’t have the energy to have it on that day, and you can interact via the group chat if that’s easier for you – there’s no pressure to speak if you don’t feel up to it. If you’re not feeling well enough to attend a whole session and need to leave one partway through, that’s OK. If you need any other accommodations, just let me know.
What’s your experience in running groups?
I’m an accredited counsellor and I’ve undertaken extra training in facilitating therapeutic support groups. I’ve run previous Covid-conscious groups in my private practice, and I’ve also run support groups in previous jobs.
I’m interested, what are the next steps?
Please fill in this form, I will then contact you to arrange a short call to discuss the group. You can also email me at info@blackcatcounselling.co.uk if you’ve got any questions.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Are you Covid-conscious and interested in 1-2-1 counselling? Find out more here.