If you don't have children and want to work through anything to do with this, then I'm here to help.
I am childfree, and have never wanted children. This can be helpful if you're childless and want to work with a counsellor who you can be confident won't be bringing their own grief into your therapeutic process. Similarly, if you wish to explore whether you want to have children or not, I won't offer a bias towards having children.
Similarly, if you're childfree I can offer a service without a pro-child bias, which you may find useful if you require support. Many childfree people are pressured to have children by family or partners, and I can offer a space where that won't happen.
In addition to working with childfree and childless individuals, I run a childfree group.
The Cactus Childfree Discussion Group
I run an online group for childfree, childless, and unsure folk ("fence-sitters" for those in the know!) of all genders.
This is a discussion group specifically designed to offer a space in which to explore your feelings around childlessness and childfreedom. It doesn't matter whether you're childless and are exploring what it might mean to embrace a life without children, on the fence, or happily childfree, the group is for all non-parents!
This group falls somewhere between a therapeutic group and a social group: it's meant for more sensitive or sincere discussion than a social group that might meet in pubs or bars, but it's not full-on therapy. I facilitate the group and maintain a safe, boundaried environment for you to discuss anything related to childfreedom. I will offer prompts or do a brief presentation to help get the conversation started.
This group differs from other Bristol-based childfree groups in that it's mixed: many other groups are women-only. Mine is open to men - and is trans-inclusive.
There is no cost to join; it's free, and runs for 1 hour.
If you'd like to know a bit more about me and why I run this group, feel free to read more about my own history and feelings around children and childfreedom here.
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When, Where, and Other Details
The group is held on Zoom. Our upcoming groups are:
- Wednesday 3rd December @ 7pm: Discussion session
- Wednesday 7th January @ 7pm: Discussion session
- Tuesday 20th January @ 7pm: Discussion session
- Tuesday 3rd February @ 7pm: Discussion session
- Wednesday 4th February @ 7pm: Discussion session
Then I'll break for Christmas, and resume in January 2026. From then, I'll run the group on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm, with the occasional Tuesday included.
If you'd like to join, please email me and ask to be added to the group's distribution list. I'll send the Zoom invitation for the group on the morning of the session.
Future Plans
Women-only Groups
I advertise on Bristol Womens' Voice, so if you've come from there, please let me know, as I aim to run a women-only group in the future alongside the mixed groups. They will be trans-inclusive.
Grandchildfreedom and Grandchildlessness
Grandchildfreedom is an emerging area that has some aspects in common with childfreedom. If you're:
- a parent of at least one adult child, and
- that child is childfree, and
- you would prefer not to have grandchildren
then please get in touch! This could be a very niche group, but if there are enough of you out there then I'd love to start a group for people who are happily grandchildfree.
Please note that a support group for grandchildless folk exists and is maintained by Dr. Mary Ellen Miller. Her group primarily supports those who are grieving being non-grandparents. She's based in the States, and you can find more information about her group, The Kindred Hearts Circle, here. By contrast, I'm aiming to offer a space that emphasises building community for folk who aren't grandparents and don't want to become one (though I'm certainly open to being inclusive).
