WHAT THEY’re SAYING
ABOUT courtney
I was in an extremely dark place when it came to accepting my status. Courtney offered me perspective and a shoulder to cry on. He was extremely supportive and without him I don’t think I would be in the place I am today in terms of accepting my status and being able to effectively communicate it to others. We spoke on the phone for a while, and then kept in touch via text and Instagram. I am forever grateful that I found him and SPFPP.
I reached out to Courtney on Instagram after seeing him featured on other YouTube videos and Instagram posts. He was super responsive to my initial questions, was thorough in his replies, and his perspective and advice really helped normalize what is such an isolating experience of a herpes diagnosis. It was mentally super helpful to hear an honest perspective from another man who is confidently living and dating with this virus.
For just being some stranger on the internet, Courtney always makes time to make people feel important and cared for. I appreciate every question and piece of advice he’s taken the time to share with me, not just personally, but publicly on his platform. He’s clearly a selfless individual fighting the good fight!
Courtney is always positive and honest. The resources he provides helped me learn, navigate, and find community after my diagnosis in 2020. I was most impressed at how he was willing to take time to answer questions, or just give an uplifting message.
Courtney inspires confidence, while simultaneously empathizing and validating your concerns and fears, and minimizing the hold herpes stigma can create. He also helped connect me with community, therapy, and give me hope.
Conversations with Courtney always leave me feeling validated, seen, and accepted even though we’ve never even met in person. He always manages to make you feel met where you are in every situation — every time.
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I really wanted to thank you and am grateful for you organizing this workshop. The mental and physical toll that an HSV diagnosis takes is often under-recognized in the STI community.
This workshop and the community it fosters gave me a renewed perspective on disclosure and dating. Seeing so many people who have HSV happily dating and in relationships of all kinds filled me with positivity and hope. It was also a very freeing feeling being "out" to people about my diagnosis without fear of judgment.
Reframing disclosure as a discussion instead of a confession was a lightbulb moment for me. I am truly looking forward to attending more events and workshops that you organize! I also wanted to ask if I could possibly volunteer for SPFPP in any capacity, or if you know any STI stigma organizations I could be involved in. I really want to be a part of changing HSV stigma and this event inspired me. I look forward to continuing to follow your important work in the community!
I gained so much from the herpes discussion workshop. I loved that it included the sharing of personal experiences which made me feel much less isolated in my own experience. Even though I was attending virtually, the environment that Courtney created for us felt so welcoming and inclusive. I also loved the guidance given on when to disclose and resources like the STARS method that was shared out. I feel like I have the ability to have these conversations more confidently now because of this workshop.
After finding SPFPP, I’m in a much better place. I feel like I am fine with my status and don’t feel like my life is somehow interrupted. When I have to disclose to a potential partner, I have a resource that has been helpful and impactful.
I felt more accepting to myself and my status, like it wasn’t as big of a burden as I had thought. That just because I do have a positive status I’m still worthy and deserving of love. And my status does not define me in any way. I felt and still feel empowered and that my status doesn’t hold me back at all!
Since reaching out to SPFPP I feel supported, empowered, and excited! I'm no longer scared of my diagnosis, and my identity validation is almost constant. I am more confident, and excepting of myself and others in a sex positive space.
SPFPP significantly increased my confidence in myself. This community normalizes the diagnosis, empowering you to unlearn STI stigma and navigate relationships with intention and increased sense of worth. Stigma is so deeply ingrained, I don’t know that I’ll ever be done unlearning it. But I’m so much closer to that than I was before SPFPP.
After I reached out I had a clear plan as to what my next steps needed to be as far as healing, my health, and getting support and therapy. I can definitely say I was lucky enough to be provided resources and full support from SPFPP, which really helped me feel a lot better as time had went on. Emotionally, I was able to control myself more because I realized I needed to move forward as I could not change the past.
I’m feeling more reassured after finding SPFPP. I’ve felt so sexually repressed since my diagnosis and it’s been a real struggle. I’m still nervous to disclose to this person in my life, but at least I feel more confident doing so.