Lesbian Queer Sapphic Coming Out Later in Life Support Group

Which superhero are you? It takes bravery, courage, and strength to be our authentic selves!

The next virtual group starts in June 2026.

For age ~35+, identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, late bloomer, sapphic, later-in-life lesbian, etc., share a romantic and/or sexual attraction to women, and hold a socially conscious and progressive framework.

The group combines support, coaching, learning, and sharing. The group’s format includes weekly themes, a resource packet, and optional homework. The resources cover topics such as exploring and adjusting to the “new” identities that accompany the personal and public shift toward being more “out” to oneself and others; getting support; self-care when facing unacceptance or rejection; divorce and children; conflict management and communication; and problem-solving and decision-making strategies.

The next group starts in June 2026. This is a 12-week virtual group that meets on Zoom.

For more information and to get on the waitlist: Contact Irene Greene

The fee is $60/session for 12 weeks. Two adjusted fee slots are available. One optional 50-minute coaching session (for 1/2 of the typical $205 fee) is included with your group membership.

To hold your spot and to support group cohesion, members are asked to make a financial and time commitment to attend all 12 meetings. One missed meeting out of 12 is acceptable, and the missed session fee is reduced to 1/2 of the fee. 

Contact Irene Greene.

More detailed information about the issues that are discussed in the group: 

• Share your process, joys, relief, and concerns in “coming out” to yourself.
• Explore what it means for you to accept, be, and express more fully and authentically who you are.
• Identify how your values will help guide your coming-out/being-out process and decisions.
• If you do, how do you identify/label your sexual identity and why? What are your pronouns and why?
• What have been the costs and benefits to you of not coming out until now?
• Address and decrease your isolation, shame, fear, anxiety, confusion, loss, uncertainty, regrets, and guilt.
• How is the current social and political environment impacting your coming out, sense of safety, feelings of shame, and discomfort?
• Identify the decisions you need to make. Option: Make a goal-setting plan and receive support and coaching.
• Discuss the “comfort” of being in a life and marriage with your husband and family, friends, dreams, history together vs. the possible concerns, unknowns, and results of disrupting that life and relationship, including the loss and grief that can be associated with such changes.
• Experiences of “heterosexual comfort and safety” and the decrease in privilege that comes with being LGBTQ+ vs. “straight.”
• Concerns, questions, realizations, and feelings about currently being in and/or having been in a relationship with a woman/women. 
• Experiences of internalized homophobia and heterosexism, emotionally, physically, and your self-talk, i.e., guilt, self-loathing, disgust with same-sex sex, anti-LGBTQ+ self-talk and thoughts.
• How the issues of age, race, class, religion, ability, and intergenerational trauma intersect with your coming out process.
• What issues come up for you over the winter holidays?
• Where and how do I fit into the LGBTQ+ community?
• Manage your self-care throughout the process.

• Coming out story, situation, decision-making strategies, challenges, and process.
• Concerns related to having lived a single or married “heterosexual life” and transitioning to being more “out” to yourself and others (e.g., self-identity, friends, family, years of intertwined life with a spouse, children, home, money, workplace, spiritual community, neighbors, schools, mental health & medical professionals, etc.).
• Explore how the decisions you may need/want to make may put you in conflict with the needs of your children, spouse, family, friends, religious community, etc.
• Concerns and problem-solving strategies related to coming out of a “straight” marriage (e.g., talking to your spouse, getting a divorce or staying together, polyamory, co-parenting, housing, money management, telling family and friends, extramarital affair).
• Share the concerns, fears, and joys of dating and having sex.

ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR CHILDREN (if you have them):

• Discuss fears and concerns you have about how coming out will adversely impact your relationship with your children, etc.
• “Coming out” to your children – dos and don’ts.
• When should I introduce my children to someone I am dating?
• Tips on dos and don’ts related to when and how my co-parent and I can best tell the children.
• What does “centering the needs of the children” mean in relation to a possible divorce and my coming out?

CONCEPTS & RESOURCES:

• Explore history and concepts related to the LGBTQ+ communities and culture.
• Discuss definitions and stereotypes, i.e., heterosexism, heteronormativity, heterosexual privilege, and internalized homophobia. What is the difference between sexual identity and sexuality? Why “homosexual” is an outdated concept. What does queer mean? What is the difference between internalized homophobia and fact-based fear and concern?
• Share resources (e.g., podcasts, books, blogs, websites, movies, dating sites).

Contact Irene Greene for more information.

See the Support and Skills Groups for general information about the groups Irene offers and her approach.