Women’s Coming Out Later in Life Support Group

This Women’s Coming Out Later in Life Support Group is an open and ongoing group for women who live in Georgia.  After our initial phone consultation, you are invited to join us anytime you like.  This group meets on an ‘ongoing’ basis, with no start or end dates.  Once added to our list, you are welcome to RSVP and attend anytime.

History 

In 2014, after months of searching for resources for my clients who were curious and questioning their ‘not-so-straight’ sexual orientation, I began holding space in my office for this Women’s Coming Out Later in Life Support Group.  Our first meeting was standing room only with over 13 women attending.

Currently, we meet once per month in person.  Our location is shared only with attendees.  Our online support groups are temporarily on hold.

On the days we meet, 100+ pre-screened women receive their invitation to RSVP by email.  Typically, 5-10 women join us in person at each gathering.  Each meeting is a slightly different experience, with different attendees, different topics and different overall moods.  We hold a safe space, facilitate connection and build community.

About Our Group

This Women’s Coming Out Later in Life Support Group is for you if you:

• Are curious about your sexual orientation for the first (or not first) time
• Don’t know the questions, much less the answers yet
• Need a safe space to speak, listen and share at your own pace
• Are still getting comfortable with your sexual orientation
• Are divorcing or contemplating divorce in part or in whole because of your sexual orientation
• Crave community, connection and support with other like-minded women

  Working with an individual therapist while attending this Support Group may be beneficial for some attendees.  I am happy to offer you recommendations or discuss whether you and I might be a good fit for therapy.

Our Meetings Go Something Like This

• Welcome you into a safe, supportive, respectful space for curiosity and exploration
• Help you get comfortable in your own skin, at your own pace, in your own way
• Connect women who ‘get it’ – no explanation required.  And yes, you will make friends!
• Support each other in curiosity, exploration, questioning and more
• Share information, resources, events, experiences and more
• No one is turned away for financial reasons / Please see Meeting Process below

RSVP Process

1. Complete a brief phone consultation.
2. Receive your email invitation, usually no later than 1:30 pm.
3. Email me back no later than 3:15 pm that day to request your payment link.
4. Our Group fee of $25 is waived for those with financial or safety concerns.
5. If you RSVP, you will receive a unique, one-time, encrypted payment link no later than 3:15 pm.
6. Most everyone is anxious about attending their first Support Group! 
   Please reach out and attend anyway 🙂  We are looking forward to meeting you!

2026 Support Group Dates!

All groups meet Saturdays from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

March 7 – IN PERSON

April 11 – IN PERSON

May 2 – IN PERSON

June 13 – IN PERSON

July 11 – IN PERSON

August 8 – IN PERSON

September 12 – IN PERSON

October 3 – IN PERSON

October 10 & 11 – ATLANTA PRIDE WEEKEND

November 7 – IN PERSON

December 5 – IN PERSON

For more information about this Support Group, please email me at [email protected] to schedule a free 20-minute phone consult.

Great Starter Resources

8 Things Later-in-Life Lesbians Want You to Know, Huff Post, Helene Tragos, Stelian, 2015

Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women’s Love and Desire, Harvard University Press, 2008

Coming Out Late in Life – and Finding a New Life in Midlife, New York Times, 2023

W2W Resource Guide – Books, Websites and Lots More

The Lesbian Chronicles Podcast – These gals met in Our Group!

Group Guidelines & Disclaimers – Revised 6/11/2026

Support/Peer/Community Group Definition
This Women’s Coming Out Later in Life Support Group is facilitated by a licensed therapist. It is not a therapy group and participating in this Group does not confer or imply a therapist / client relationship between you and Melissa Lester, LCSW. This Group creates a safe space, fosters individual growth and encourages the cultivation of community.

Respect for Others
You agree to value and respect diversity of thought, expression, experience, religion, faith, ability, knowledge, awareness, education, ethnicity, race, culture, age, sexual orientation, gender expression, financial means, occupation and any other differences that may be shared implicitly or explicitly among Group members during or outside of Group.

Privacy
For online meetings, please make sure you are in a private room with no one else present. No one should be able to see your computer screen or hear your audio at any time.

For in person meetings, you guarantee to not disclose the physical location of any in person group meetings or events, any identifying information about group members including aspects of other people’s stories.

Confidentiality
We do not share any details of someone else’s story, whether they are members of this Group or not, including first name, last name, occupation, circumstance, ‘just an interesting story,” etc. These details are often enough to reveal someone’s identity. Metro Atlanta is a small town.

Recordings
Recording, taping or photographing of any meeting or member is strictly prohibited without their signed and dated consent. You agree to not record, recreate, or republish any aspect of this Support Group or any personal information shared past or present, in any medium, in perpetuity, regardless of any state laws that may contradict this guideline.

Timeliness
Group is held in an intentionally relaxed atmosphere. We generally start a few minutes late to give everyone time to arrive. Timeliness is appreciated, but there is no judgment for being a few minutes late. Life is stressful enough. 🙂

Community
I encourage you to connect with Group members outside of group. Activities that take place outside our official Group meetings should be designed to protect everyone’s privacy, confidentiality and safety. I recommend not posting locations publicly and only using HIPAA compliant and encrypted technology platforms to communicate.

Please keep in mind that personal relationships among Group member’s can have multiple consequences for you, the other member and our Group. One potential consequence is that the Group may become emotionally unsafe or less private for you or the other person in the relationship. If you would like to discuss these issues with me, please feel free to reach out.

Safety
Emotional and physical safety are our very first priorities. Lives, marriages, jobs, finances, physical safety, children / custody and other risks are very real for some Group members. Absolute confidentiality is the best way we can keep each other safe. Never share your individual one-time link with anyone. Never share the physical location of any group member, meeting, event or activity.  If you have any safety concerns whatsoever, immediately report them to your therapist, the other person’s therapist and/or call 911.

Dispute Resolution
This Support Group Agreement Form is governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Georgia. Any action brought by any party against Melissa Lester, LCSW or Social Work Supervision, Inc. shall first be submitted to mediation, and if not resolved, shall be brought in courts within DeKalb or Fulton County, GA.

Attendance At Will
You acknowledge that all participation in this Support Group is at will. You understand that you may attend or not attend as you see fit. In addition, you understand that you may request to be removed or be removed by the facilitator Melissa Lester, LCSW from the COLIL email list at any time.

Attestation
By attending any COLIL Support Group meeting, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to all the foregoing. In addition, you agree that you support both the letter and the spirit of these guidelines and agree to both take and refrain from any actions that a reasonable person would to ensure the safety and well-being of all Support Group members.