Purity Culture Dropout Queer Support Groups
Pssst- You are queer enough for this group.
The Purity Culture Dropout™ Queer Support Groups are my most sought after offering. They only happen once annually and provide an opportunity to meet virtually with other queer folks who were raised in purity culture and have moderated support group discussions on a variety of topics!
The Queer Support Groups are heading into their 6th year and have now supported hundreds of people in building community and a more clear, confident understanding of themselves.
These groups are one of my favorite ways to work with clients. They’re healing but also SO much fun. It’s hard to express how powerful they are. Seriously, we have a blast!
I started these groups in 2020, because I wanted to create community when COVID initially had us all in lockdown. What followed was beyond my wildest dreams. We started out with 3 support groups of about 8-10 people each. After the 8 weeks were over, 2/3 of the folks in those groups elected to continue on for another 8 weeks.
In the Purity Culture Dropout™ Queer Support Groups, friendships form. Chosen family forms. People meet IRL, even ones who live far from each other. We celebrate personal wins, holidays, pride month, and every day victories. We support each other through family issues, breakups, divorces, coming out, general life anxiety, politics, grief, and loss.
Many of us (including me) still get on Zoom calls to see each other, play games, or watch movies long after the structured groups have ended. Folks from some groups have even vacationed together. The relationships formed in these groups are truly special.
If you’re seeking community who understands, this is where you’ll find it.
It doesn’t matter what letter of the LGBTQ+ umbrella you are or whether you’re out or not. Anyone 18 and older is welcome; we’ve had members in their sixties! No one is too old.
“There’s something markedly exceptional about Erica. She believes us. Even though she didn’t grow up like we did, she believes us. She believes our stories, our traumas, our struggles. And she likes us. She genuinely likes us. For those of us who grew up in high control religion and purity culture, I think we are familiar with our stories being doubted, questioned, or corrected. The deep insecurities we have carried since childhood, that we simply are not accepted or liked for who we are because of the questions we ask, the hesitancies we’ve felt, the doubts we’ve expressed, the struggles we cannot seem to overcome, or our sexual curiosities? Erica meets them all, meet us all, right where we are. She does so with unfettered welcome and kindness and gentleness. We’re not a project or an agenda or a cause to save. We’re people with a lot of fuckin’ baggage, and she offers a safe, steady place to bring it to the table. Our vulnerabilities and fears and desires are held carefully. I simply cannot say enough about how good she is.” - L
Here’s how the groups work:
Groups run for 8 weeks total and will be held for 1.5 hours weekly via Zoom call.
Our first group will begin the week of January 5, 2025.
Total cost for the 8 week support group is $450 and can be made in two payments. (This breaks down to less than $40/hour)
Each group will be capped at 9 people. Space is limited.
You are queer enough for this group.
“The biggest transformation I witnessed in myself and the rest of the group came when we started noticing how much we apologized after sharing our stories. We were afraid to say the wrong thing, talk too much, and take up too much space. After all, we were raised to be the good, quiet ones who serve others and not ourselves. Creating space for people to open up about religious trauma and sexuality in a meaningful way is no easy task, but Erica did it every week. Together we addressed the shame that in the past had kept us hiding parts of ourselves that desperately wanted to come out. What a joy it was to find connection in a group like this--to show up as my whole fucking self and be accepted. I've been in therapy for years trying to reconnect with my sexuality and talking about that with others solidified the progress I've made.” - T
Groups/Dates Available
There are FOUR different groups to choose from. All times are listed in ET.
Each group is capped at 9 participants. Each session will run for approx 75 - 90 minutes.
All groups will run for 8 consecutive weeks.
Cost: $450
Payment Plan is available ($225 deposit + $225 4 weeks later)
Group 1 - Sundays at 12pm ET
Starts Sun, Jan 5th
(for 8 consecutive weeks)
Group 2 - Tuesdays at 7pm ET
Starts Tues, Jan 7th
(for 8 consecutive weeks)
Group 3 - Thursdays at 9pm ET
Starts Thurs, Jan 9th
(for 8 consecutive weeks)
Group 4 - Fridays at 12pm ET
Starts Fri, Jan 10th
(for 8 consecutive weeks)
The biggest transformation I witnessed in myself and the rest of the group came when we started noticing how much we apologized after sharing our stories. We were afraid to say the wrong thing, talk too much, and take up too much space. After all, we were raised to be the good, quiet ones who serve others and not ourselves. Over time we caught ourselves saying sorry and even joked about it. Creating space for people to open up about religious trauma and sexuality in a meaningful way is no easy task but Erica did it every week. Together we addressed the shame that in the past had kept us hiding parts of ourselves that desperately wanted to come out. What a joy it was to find connection in a group like this--to show up as my whole fucking self and be accepted. I've been in therapy for years trying to reconnect with my sexuality and talking about that with others solidified the progress I've made.
T, Saskatchewan