Conscious Girlfriend Academy
Certified Coaches
In addition to our classes and membership programs, Conscious Girlfriend Academy trains and certifies coaches to work effectively with our community's unique love life needs.
Whether you're just coming out, need dating support, want to strengthen your relationship,
or are going through a breakup, our coaches can help!
Coaches work independently, and their fees are not included in Academy membership.
Risa August
As a certified Gestalt Practitioner, Risa draws on this holistic approach to guide clients through the many challenging facets of life, along with her CGA training, which focuses on attachment styles and relationship dynamics. As a Creative Consultant, Risa also offers inspirational sessions for those starting new and creative endeavors
of their own.
Poonam Bhargava
Poonam grew up in conservative India and immigrated to USA in an arranged marriage. She defied tradition, came out, overcame rejections, and worked through her trauma to create a life she’s proud of. Certified in Somatic & Parts Work, Biology of Attachment & Neurodevelopment, she makes the concept of self-love tangible for her clients, tactically empowering them to cultivate healthy self-relationship, transforming every facet of their lives—whether dating, marriage, break-ups, or co-parenting.
Cind Blair
Cind is a compassionate, empathic coach who specializes in the transformative magic of Internal Family Systems (IFS). In addition to CGA certification, she has trained in IFS, EFT tapping, and life coaching. She is the mother of three, and has queer and neurodivergent family members. Cind lives in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A., and practices online via Zoom.
Shari Gerstenberger
Shari is a holistic sex and relationship coach who can help you embrace and live your way into your unique bisexual, queer or lesbian identity. She is also a certified Somatica Method Sex & Intimacy coach and trained in the Hakomi Method. Based in Southern California, she works with clients worldwide on Zoom.
Michel Grey
Michel (they/them) is a longtime coach, a Black, queer, trans child of immigrant parents, and a powerful ally in helping every part of you be expressed and accepted. They say, "You don't need to wait for a midlife crisis to live your truth. We’ve all heard it before - fill your cup up first. But what does that actually fucking mean? That’s what I work on with my clients." Based in Texas, Michel works worldwide via Zoom.
Alicia Hennager
Alicia’s special interests include kink, BDSM, non-monogamy, neurodiversity, sexuality and intentional intimacy. She is especially passionate about helping people through divorce and breakups. As a neurodivergent queer woman living with fibromyalgia, and as the mother of three biracial, neurodivergent children, she grasps the challenge of living with multiple marginalized identities. She describes herself as a “no-bullshit, direct yet warm coach...who can help you live your most authentic and unapologetic life.
Truth Irwin
Having been a Transformational Therapist for over 30 years and queer, it was a natural fit to become a Conscious Girlfriend Coach. Truth brings a wholistic approach to her coaching, interweaving spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, sexual and relational teachings and tools tailored to the needs and goals of the client. Her passion is helping individuals clear traumatic and painful experiences and be able to move forward in life being happier in every area.
Lisa Madsen
Lisa's passion is working with women coming out, especially later in life. She navigated the complex journey of coming out twice, once in her 20s and again after 20+ years married to a man. Lisa has two young adult children (one bio and one adopted). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Life Coach. Lisa works worldwide on Zoom and holds space for what is possible. Clients describe Lisa as kind, compassionate, joyful and sassy. She's got you—so, let's go!
Nicki Monahan
Nicki is a collaborative coach who will partner with you to reclaim your joy by healing from heartbreak, developing a dating strategy, navigating long distance relationships, living your gender with authenticity, and facing the challenges of living our sexualities fully and passionately. Her coaching style is empathic and warm-hearted, and her coaching credentials include ICF certification and a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Based in Toronto, Canada, Nicki works with clients worldwide on Zoom. Contact Nicki for a free 15-minute consult.
Ruth Schwartz
Academy Director Ruth Schwartz knows firsthand how painful it can be to have a deeply loving, but sexless lesbian marriage. After she divorced, she spent three years studying to become a sex coach. She is passionate about helping couples learn each other's erotic love languages, and helping singles feel sexually confident and empowered. She offers VIP Transformation packages that include 10 hours of coaching along with annual Supporting Academy membership. You're worth it!
Your Name Could Be Here!
More Conscious Girlfriend coaches are in training now! To our knowledge, Conscious Girlfriend Coach Training & Certification is the only program in the world offering comprehensive training in conscious lesbian/queer dating, relationship and sexuality coaching.
Our next 6-month, 60-hour training starts in June.
Why A Conscious Girlfriend Coach?
Lesbians, queer women and adjacent non-binary people face unique challenges and unique opportunities when we date, communicate, bond, form sexual relationships, and heal from breakups. CGA coaches are uniquely prepared to support you in creating the love life you want and deserve.
The Academy is the world leader in conscious lesbian dating, relationship and sex education. Whether you want to heal from a breakup, prepare for healthy love, find the right partner, or keep your current love strong, our classes, support and community will help.
Academy Members Say:
Yesterday's classes were incredible. I learned so much in the Boundaries class, definitely some life-changing knowledge in there! And the spiritual connection group was nothing short of delightful; the energy was so nurturing.
— Audrey, age 38
Thank you again for creating this Academy -- you have no idea of the amount of impact this has already made in my life! In the past I felt panicky when a match reached out to me on a dating site. Now I'm gaining so much confidence!
— Lauri, age 61
As a new Academy member, I wanted to share how much I enjoyed participating in the recent groups and classes! I can’t wait to watch the recording of the class because there was so much information in it. Thanks so much for making this available to our community.
— Robbi, age 56
The Academy is helping me practice meeting women and sharing myself. I am excited and look forward more group meetings. Also, I have already contact info and have been talking with several women from the group. The “From Conflict to Connection” class was also excellent.
— Alexa S., age 60
Your class on Solo Sexual Enlivenment was very freeing, yes edgy, but you have a way of breaking the ice, and giving permission really resonates with me. I think that permission is really what I’ve needed for so long to let go (of unhealthy people and patterns), and to be my queer self.
— Gereen, age 40
GREAT session yesterday! It addressed my problems (initiating, asking someone for her contact info, etc.) right to the core. I'm learning so much and it’s a great group of women. I’m really glad to be part of the community!
— Terry, age 52
Academy Members Get Life-Changing Results
Lucy's Story
Lucy was in her 40s and had come out after a long marriage to a man. She had only had one relationship with a woman, and it ended badly. She knew some women would rule her out because she had two kids at home, and, especially because of her kids, she was really picky.
So she doubted there was really someone out there for her, but she took the Roadmap anyway... and it gave her the clarity and confidence she needed.
Within just a few months of finishing the Roadmap, Lucy met an amazing woman (on Tinder, of all places!) They have now been domestic partners for several years. Lucy's new partner adores her kids, and they post amazing pictures on Facebook of their family vacations.
This is how magic works: Lucy hates to cook, and among the many other qualities she wanted in a partner, she really hoped to find someone who would cook for her. Guess what? The woman she met is a chef!
Lucy wrote to me:
Taking the Roadmap really allowed me to focus on putting out into the universe what I wanted quite specifically. I put into my dating profile things I might not have before taking your course, and looked for specific traits I knew I needed, that I didn't know about before. I believe that was a big factor into why I even found her. She really is what I have been looking for. I was one of those women over 40 that wondered if finding the right partner was even possible at this age. Now I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
Elizabeth's Story
Elizabeth was in her 50s and gun-shy. She had a history of being attracted to partners who were not emotionally safe for her.
She took the Roadmap class and also did 1:1 coaching with me, so we could rewire her attraction patterns. (Yes, this is doable!)
The Roadmap helped her realize that she actually got turned on by women who felt dangerous to her. This is not uncommon. But though danger felt sexy, it definitely didn't lead to happy relationships.
After we’d been coaching for a few months, and Elizabeth dated a few women who fit the old pattern, she met a woman at a party and noticed that something different was happening. There was chemistry and she could actually see that this woman was good for her, too.
Some bumps came up early on, and the Roadmap helped Elizabeth and her new girlfriend get through them and stay centered. Now they’re married and have been together for five years. They're local, so sometimes I run into them around town, and Elizabeth always introduces me as “the dating coach who made this possible for me.”
Of course, the truth is that she made it possible for herself. But I'm really glad that the Roadmap helped her do that.
Jeanette's Story
Jeanette was in her 60s, and had been single for a very long time. She was nervous about dating, didn't feel comfortable dating online, yet knew she didn't want to be alone forever, either. She felt stuck.
The Roadmap class helped her realize that she wasn't alone; there were actually many other women in similar situations. This helped her release her shame. Next, she worked on healing some unsettled emotions from her last relationship, since she realized they were getting in her way.
Then Jeanette created her online profile, and started meeting women. There were a number of disappointments and awkward conversations at first, but the support of the Roadmap helped her keep at it. After about a year, she met Dena, and they clicked and have been together ever since. Now Jeanette credits the Roadmap with helping her have the confidence to seek -- and find -- a new love (and also work through challenges as they come up.) "It's really never too late," Jeanette says happily.
These are just a handful of the amazing transformations that happen in the Academy for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, too.
There's no upper or lower age limit on healthy lesbian love.
And the Roadmap will help you prepare for that love, and find it.
