Welcome To The
Conscious Girlfriend Academy
We're the global leader helping lesbians, queer women and adjacent non-binary people prevent heartbreak, date wisely, and love well (we literally wrote the book on it :) Based in the U.S., we serve people in 25 countries, ages 20s-80s.
If you're coming out later in life, a late bloomer or just realizing you're not straight and wondering where you fit... Here, you belong.
COMING OUT & COMING HOME
Ongoing Empowerment Group
Especially for those coming out in their 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s
THURSDAYS, 3:00-5:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME
W h y T h i s G r o u p E x i s t s
... Because coming out can be one of the biggest, hardest, bravest and most important things you'll ever do.
... Because being your authentic self is key to a life well-lived, but it's almost impossible to get there without support.
... Because you deserve help from a warm, compassionate global lesbian and queer community that has your back and has the information you need.
... Because it's never, ever too late.
... Because there isn't just one way to come out, or to live life as a lesbian or a woman-loving-woman. Your new life gets to be as unique as you are.
... Because everything you've lived through has led you to this moment, and your time is now.
... Because lesbian dating is very different, and knowing how to do it right is key to avoiding heartbreak.
... Because lesbian relationships are more intense, and require some very specific skills to stay afloat and connected.
... Because lesbian sex can be the most amazing sex on the planet, but it's also way more varied and nuanced, so it takes building confidence, attunement, and bedroom communication skills.
... Because you deserve a refuge, a place where people "get" you, accept you, appreciate you and cheer you on.
... Because the lesbian community is diverse, full of its own history, cultures and customs, and this is a safe place to learn them.
... Because there's nothing better than finally being loved for all of who you are, and all of who you're becoming.
... And, this group is offered by the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, the leading global resource helping lesbians and queer women prevent heartbreak, date wisely and love well.
You can sign up for weekly Coming Out Empowerment by the month
or get comprehensive lesbian dating, love & sex support for a year -- it's up to you.
Choose Your Plan
Coming Out & Coming Home
Empowerment Group
A La Carte
Weekly Group
$199/month
50% Off:
$99/month
Annual
Basic Academy Membership
Save $191 By Paying Yearly...
Plus get a comprehensive lesbian dating & love education, including all our live classes, our core archives and our weekly skills lab along with the Coming Out Empowerment Group for one low fee.
$997
Annual
Deep-Dive Membership
Get all the benefits of Basic Annual Membership PLUS plus 36+ group coaching sessions with Academy Director Ruth Schwartz.
$1997
Payment plan available.
WANT TO CHAT WITH US FIRST?
Start With A Free Consult
Not sure which option will serve you best? Get a free 1:1 with our Outreach Director, Jen Solin, to learn how the Academy can help.
Ruth L. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Dr. Ruth Schwartz, author of the Amazon-bestselling book Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love, is the founder of the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, and a pioneer in lesbian and queer relationship education.
After coming out in the 1980s, Ruth had to learn everything the hard way. There was no healthy dating or relationship roadmap for women who loved women... so, after decades of struggle, she created one.
Ruth says, "I'm passionate about helping women and non-binary people break through whatever blocks us from our own evolution and truth. I love supporting those who are coming out at any age."
A Special Welcome
Whether you've known since you were a kid, are just now realizing you're attracted to women, or came out in the past few years and need help finding your footing and your community...
We're here to help.
Your time is now.
A LOVE LETTER FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE
I worried about so many things. What if I was wrong about what I felt? What if I never found someone to love me? Would the lesbian community even accept me? What if I said it and then regretted it forever?
I spent years trying to stop thinking about women. Googling "How to know if you're really a lesbian." I even went to therapists who promised to "ungay" me. I was afraid of destroying my husband, my children, my family. Myself.
But you know what? When I finally did it, it was SUCH a relief. I promise you: you can do it too.
Love,
Finally Me
P.S. What I didn't expect was how amazing the lesbian community would actually be. I've met some of the deepest, most thoughtful, most open and caring women I've ever known here in the Conscious Girlfriend Academy. My confidence is skyrocketing, and I finally feel ready to live the life that's most authentic to me.
THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU HERE
"I knew even as a kid, but I couldn't bear the thought of living on the margins of society. Now I'm stronger, but I wonder, is it too late for me?"
"I never thought about being attracted to women until after my marriage ended. I found myself looking at men and feeling completely disinterested. I realized I felt so much more alive around my women friends, one of them in particular."
"It was my daughter who gave me the courage to come out. She was depressed for years, and then finally told me she was trans. I wanted to support her in every way I could. Then it dawned on me, how could I support her when I wasn't even living my true self?!"
"I never thought I could be gay because I didn't fit the stereotypes. It wasn't until I saw two feminine women together that I realized it just looked more right to me than a man and woman ever had."
"I was married for over forty years, and it was a good marriage. But after my husband's death, I started spending a lot of time with a woman in my church. Eventually, neither of us could deny that there was chemistry between us. She got scared and cut the friendship off, which devastated me. Where does that leave me now? Am I bisexual? Am I a lesbian? Is it even possible to come out at 68 years old?"
"I told myself I had to wait until my parents died before I could even think about it. Now I feel like I've wasted so much of my life. How can I forgive myself?
"I never liked my husband touching me. I used to fantasize about women to get myself in the mood. But it felt terrifying to imagine actually becoming one of those women. It took decades to realize that the thought of not ever living my true self was even more terrifying."
"I liked men just fine. Sex with men, no problem. But in my first and only relationship with a woman, I felt so much I had never felt before..."
Our stories are jewels.
Together, we make a beautiful necklace of courage.
Get the help you need
to live your authentic life.
HAZEL MARIE VOLK
"Within two months at the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, I've gained more insight into myself and my relationships than I did in a decade of counseling, even with wonderful therapists.
The practical tools, exercises, and invitations to slow down and regulate my nervous system have been transformative. Connecting with others on the same path, from diverse ages and backgrounds, is also deeply supportive. In a world so shaped by heteronormative narratives, it's rare to find these spaces.
For me, Conscious Girlfriend Academy is more than a learning space. It's about healing, connection, and growth. And fun!"
"We met each other online after Pierce took the Academy's class on online dating (which she had always thought she would never do.)
We dated slowly and consciously, using the tools from the classes. Laura signed up for a class, too. Even though there was chemistry, we didn't rush in. Sometimes we'd both watch a class, then schedule a date afterward to talk about it.
Now we've created a life in which Pierce lives in a spiritual community in Mexico, and Laura lives in her California home. Traveling back and forth and sharing our lives this way keeps our love alive and fresh. We get to love each other without sacrificing or compromising ourselves. We are truly living out the Academy promise of 'loving and being loved with ease.'"
PIERCE & LAURA
Coming Out Is A Journey.
And recently, we held a remarkable event.
Over 70 women and non-binary people from at least four countries shared and listened to each other's coming out stories. One was coming out that day. Another had come out 53 years ago. The stories encompassed sadness, loss, laughter, joy and resilience. We listened, we learned, we blessed one another. Our love is a healing force!
Conscious Girlfriend Academy Is Featured In:
Coming Out & Coming Home
Empowerment Group
A La Carte
Weekly Group
$199/month
50% Off:
$99/month
Annual
Basic Academy Membership
Save $191 By Paying Yearly...
Plus get a comprehensive lesbian dating & love education, including all our live classes, our core archives and our weekly skills lab along with the Coming Out Empowerment Group for one low fee.
$997
Annual
Deep-Dive Membership
Get all the benefits of Basic Annual Membership PLUS plus 36+ group coaching sessions with Academy Director Ruth Schwartz.
$1997
Payment plan available.
NOT SURE WHICH OPTION TO CHOOSE?
We're happy to chat.
Get a free call with our Outreach Director, Jen Solin, to explore your options and learn whether the Academy is right for you.
