Conscious Lesbian - Queer Dating and Love Sydney

Watch this free video about what we're up to

Here's the thing. Lesbians love hard, but none of us got to take classes in lesbian dating and love, until now. So too often, we end up falling for the wrong people, going too fast, getting our hearts broken, taking years to heal, then doing it all over again without ever having gained new skills.

That's why Conscious Girlfriend Academy exists. We are the only organization on the planet that trains coaches to support lesbians and queer women in our unique dating and love challenges!

And Nicki Monahan, one of our most experienced coaches, leads a skill-building lab every single week to help you practice things we all need to know how to do (but never got to learn), like:
... Asking a woman out.
...Letting her know you're interested, or not interested.
...Asking for something different in the connection.
...Letting her know more about your needs, including your sexual needs. ...Making requests.
...Setting boundaries.
...Bringing up something that's bothering you.
... Sharing what you really feel, without fear.

FYI, this event is cross posted on 26 Meetups around the world. We usually have 25-50 attendees each week, so don't be discouraged if your local Meetup RSVP count is small.

"I knew more about growing organic broccoli than I did about how to choose a partner and make a relationship work," one of our members said ruefully after her expensive lesbian divorce. She wasn't alone.

Curious about how to:
🖤 Stop stuffing your feelings or hoping they'll go away (because that will never ultimately get you what you want.)
🖤 Stop saying things that push the other person away, when what you really want is to connect.
🖤 Avoid triggers and endless "lesbian processing loops."
🖤 Pay attention to dating red flags and look for true compatibility.
🖤 Get good at turning tough conversations into easier ones, so you can create the connection, love and sex you've always wanted. (By the way, these skills work great with friends, too)

In that case, our Skills Lab may be right for you. But, a Meetup RSVP alone won't get you in. To keep the space safe, we need you to either register and pay on our website right here, or else Schedule a free intake session here.

Weekly Skills Lab is one of the most life-changing benefits of membership in the Conscious Girlfriend Academy. The other benefits include:

• Live classes on lesbian dating, lesbian breakup healing, lesbian attachment, communication, sexuality and more
• Access to the biggest lesbian love library on the planet, full of on-demand classes you can watch any time
• Conscious Lesbians 60+, a free weekly group
• Coming Out & Coming Home, a free weekly group supporting those coming out later in life
• Deep Dive Group Coaching (for members at the Deep Dive level only)
• Opportunities to form buddy groups and study groups with other growth-oriented lesbians
• Annual in-person retreats

There's so much support for your lesbian or queer love life here in the Academy, and a great place to start is by >getting your free download of the first four chapters of our Amazon-bestselling book, Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love, right here.

Email us at ruth@consciousgirlfriend.com if you want a free intake session, so you can do a free trial of the group. We do this to keep the group safe and make sure it's a good fit for all. Or you can take the plunge and sign up without your intake here.

Isn't it time to stop leaving your love life up to luck, chance or fate? To stop blindly "putting yourself out there" and getting hurt over and over again? To learn how to do this lesbian dating thing right and get connected to like-minded women who are doing the work, actually getting ready, and want the same things you want? Check out the program that has helped thousands of lesbians worldwide. Your heart is worth it.

COMING OUT & COMING HOME Empowerment Group
Especially for those coming out in their 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s

Whether you've known since you were a kid but blocked it out, are just now realizing you're attracted to women, or came out awhile ago and need help finding community... if you are a woman who loves women, or thinks you might want to, this group is here to help you build clarity, confidence, community and belonging. No assumptions, no judgements, no labels necessary. You can be bisexual, pansexual, lesbian (even if you have no lesbian experience yet), or just figuring it out. You don't have to know. You just get to be.

We talk about ALL the things! It's all fair game. Sex. Dating. Coming out to others. Straight friends' reactions. Husbands you're still living with. Ex-husbands. Talking about your history with lesbians. Bi- and late-in-life-lesbo-phobia in the lesbian community, and how to navigate it with pride and dignity and without ever taking it personally. Whether it's OK to check women out, or whether that's creepy. How to feel and revel in your desire without being a predator. How to deal with predatory energy from other women, OR being friend-zoned when you don't want to be :)

We also role-play. Interested in someone but not sure she's into women, or single? Need to practice describing what you want? Need to figure out what it is that you want, and then practice talking about it? Need comebacks for people who say ignorant or offensive things? Just need a space to finally be yourself, even as you're still discovering who that is? We've got all of that here, and more.

FYI, this group is posted on 26 Meetups around the world, so don't be discouraged if you don't see many RSVPs in your local group! We typically have 12-20 attendees.

Meetings are weekly and the fee is a very affordable $99/month. ***You must register and pay here on our website. (A Meetup RSVP alone won't get you in.)

And if you're looking for even more support with your queer/lesbian love life, we've got a whole Academy (the Conscious Girlfriend Academy) full of support and education: live Zoom classes, on-demand classes, weekly coach-led skill-building labs, and more!

To learn more, make an appointment with our Outreach Director. If it feels right, she can also let you do a free trial of the group. Just email us at outreach@consciousgirlfriend.com.

Why The Coming Out & Coming Home Group Exists

.. 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 community.


...Because it's never, ever too late.
... Because there isn't just one way to come out, or one way to be a lesbian or a woman-loving-woman.
... 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 an open-hearted 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 you you are, and are 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. We wrote the book on lesbian dating -- literally! You can start reading our Amazon bestseller Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love right here.

"One month in this group helped me more than years of therapy." -- B., 65

"If it wasn't for this group, I wouldn't be coming out at all." -- T., 50

If this group speaks to you, come check us out! Meetings are weekly and the fee is a very affordable $99/month. ***You must register and pay here on our website. (A Meetup RSVP alone won't get you in)

See The Full 12-Week Course & Registration Info Here

Can You Relate To Any Of These Challenges?
"I've been out for decades, but I've never really dated."
"I'm new to dating women, and have no idea how to get started."
"Now that I'm over 50, everything about dating is just different."
*"*I've tried online dating, and it didn't work for me."
"I know I should 'put myself out there,' but HOW?!"
"I wish I could just skip the dating and be in a relationship already."
"I feel too burned to consider dating, yet I don't want to just give up."
"I'm not sure I want to date, but I know I need more connection in my life with healthier people."

Good News: Help Is Here!
Here's the thing: if you haven't known how to make lesbian dating work for you, you're not alone, and it's not your fault. Whether you've been out for a long time or are new to dating women, lesbian dating is intense, vulnerable, and often confusing.
Although queer dating is a learnable skill, it's not intuitive. When you try to just "follow your heart," it's likely to lead you straight to heartbreak, for reasons you'll learn all about in >Lesbian Dating Essentials.
It can be hard to even find women to date -- especially where there's not a big lesbian or queer community. Someone can seem right on paper, but you don't feel a spark. Or, when you do feel a spark, you might ignore the red flags and end up in something toxic.
You deserve better. And you can have it! It just takes learning how.

**The Lesbian Dating Essentials 12-Week Intensive is here to help you change your love life destiny, *for good. ***See the full course info here. This is a paid class, and a Meetup RSVP alone won't get you in.

This class is brought to you by Conscious Girlfriend Academy, the global leader in lesbian/queer dating and love education since 2014. We wrote the book on it -- literally! Start reading our Amazon bestseller, Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love, free right here.

Lesbian/Queer Dating & Love, Demystified!
Since our first class in 2014, Conscious Girlfriend programs have helped thousands of lesbians, queer women and adjacent non-binary people from 25 countries. We've got the keys to healing your heart, getting out of the wrong relationships, and getting into the right ones.
The Academy has many offerings throughout the year, plus two flagship 12-week courses: Lesbian Dating Essentials**, offered each September, and The Roadmap To Conscious Lesbian Dating & Lasting Love*,* offered each January.
**Our participants' stories are proof that the Academy *works. ***Read some happy, healthy lesbian love stories here for inspiration :)

Get the full Conscious Lesbian/Queer retreat details right here on our website :)

This 3-day event invites you to:

• Connect with open-hearted, like-minded lesbians and queer women
• Experience a non-hookup, community-focused environment
• Explore workshops and conversations that support personal growth and authentic connection

For some, this retreat will be their first lesbian event ever, offering a safe, welcoming space to step into community. For others, it will rekindle the joyful spirit of 1980s–1990s lesbian gatherings, celebrating friendship, self-discovery, and belonging.

***

Q: Who is the Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreat for?
This retreat is designed especially for single lesbians and queer women seeking community and friendship, though of course couples are welcome, too. Most of our attendees tend to be over 40.

• If you’re over 40, you’ll be right at home! Most attendees are in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.
• Women just coming out or exploring their queer identity are embraced here
• Longtime lesbians looking to reconnect with lesbian culture and community will feel like ducks in water :)

It’s the perfect space if you’ve been longing for meaningful connection without the pressure of a bar or dating scene and if you are a growth-oriented lesbian who wants to hang out with and/or date people committed to conscious, healthy relationships.

***

Q: Is this a dating, hookup or party event? What's the vibe?
Conscious Girlfriend Academy's focus is on conscious connection, growth, and friendship, so this retreat will be an extension of that. Most participants will have been attending Zoom classes and groups together for months, though if you're just hearing about us now, you can still come -- as long as you become a member.

That said, we will likely have a workshop on flirting and/or on lesbian sex, because we embrace all aspects of the queer experience, including our eros. And you might meet someone special organically, simply because this is a warm and authentic space where like-minded women gather.

It's definitely not a party. Some attendees may drink wine in the evening (after all, it's Napa), but many are sober or just choose not to drink. There will definitely be dancing and laughter, though :)

Get the full details and sign up here -- only a few spots are left!

***

Q: What can I expect to experience at the retreat?
At our October 2025 Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreat, you can look forward to:

• Workshops for self-discovery and personal growth, including an opportunity to attend the Saturday session of our 12-week Lesbian Dating Essentials class live and in-person!
• Morning qi gong, tai chi, yoga, meditation or mindful walks
• Community-building circles and conversations, plus an opportunity for members to share some of their own skills and knowledge and mini-workshops to benefit us all
• Evening gatherings that foster joy and belonging, including campfires and maybe even s'mores (gluten-free for some of us)
• Fantastic meals drawing on the farmland bounty Napa Valley and California are known for
• Time to relax, reflect, and recharge in warm-hearted company, welcoming to introverts, extroverts and everyone in between

Many participants say the true magic is in the friendships and confidence they take home with them.

***

Q: I’m just coming out. Will I fit in?
Absolutely! This retreat is crafted for inclusivity and comfort, offering a gentle landing for those:

• Newly coming out
• Exploring their lesbian or queer identity
• Seeking their first connection with lesbian community

You’ll be surrounded by growth-oriented, open-hearted women who will support, uplift, and welcome you exactly as you are.

***

Q: What makes this lesbian retreat unique?
Unlike a larger event or party-focused weekends, the Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreat offers:

• A non-intimidating, community-first atmosphere
• Workshops and activities that prioritize self-acceptance, learning, and authentic connection
• Opportunities to bond with other single lesbians without the pressure of a hookup or dating-focused event
• An opportunity to meet in person with your past, present or future classmates in the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, the world's only online school and community devoted to helping lesbians and adjacent queer people live our best lives, date wisely and love well. (We >wrote the book on Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love, and you can start reading it free right here.)

***

Q: Why Napa, California in October 2025?

• Napa Valley is gorgeous in autumn, with harvest-season beauty, golden vineyards, and crisp evenings.
• The serene setting supports relaxation and reflection, away from the rush of daily life.
• It’s easy to access from the Bay Area and regional airports, making it ideal for a weekend retreat to recharge and reconnect. Yet many of our participants will come from the East Coast, elsewhere in the U.S., and most likely elsewhere in the world, too. (Our members come from 25 countries!)

Q: Why do you have to be an Academy member in order to attend?

• Academy membership creates a culture based on being conscious, compassionate and curious, and this container transfers over to our retreats, making them both richer and more relaxed. Learn about membership here.
• When you're at a Conscious Girlfriend event, you can expect genuine warmth, not a frenzied focus on "meeting someone." You will definitely "meet someone" -- lots of someones! That said, most of our retreats yield friendships which sometimes, in the fullness of time, turn into romantic relationships. So, it could happen :)
• Most Academy members find that the Academy dramatically uplevels their capacity for higher-quality, authentic friendship and relationships. So it's a special perk to be able to spend F2F time with those women you've previously seen in the Zoom squares, and see what blossoms. This retreat comes midway through our groundbreaking online 12-week Lesbian Dating Essentials class, which may well rock your world -- whether you've been struggling to date, have been single for years or decades, or have never really dated as a lesbian at all.

Get the full retreat details and sign up here -- only a few spots left!