Hey friend,

A participant from a past support group sent me the most beautiful testimonial, and I got weepy reading their words.

It can be uncomfortable sharing testimonials as a business owner. I signed up to be a sex educator, and then I signed up to create a business to continue that work, but I didn't sign up to be a salesperson, and I don't always find it easy to 'sell' myself and my offerings! (full confession: it's the part of my work that I feel the most awkward about).

BUT... the feedback and kind words, whilst hugely complimentary and feel good, always reassure me that the work I'm doing is helping people. And really that's what it's all about, and what my ultimate goal is- helping to take the shame out of your experience of your sexuality, no matter what that is. My goal is helping to show Purity Culture Dropouts that you are not alone- and that there is a different way.

I care about you even though I didn't grow up with the same background- and that often surprises people. But really what kind of world is this if we ONLY care about people exactly like us? Not the kind I want!!

So in case that's you - post-purity culture, looking for answers, feeling like you're on your own, and maybe even wondering if my PCD™ Divorce Support Groups might be for you - here's the testimonial (from someone in your shoes).

"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.
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Every word here is true, Erica. You’re such a gift to us, to me. Pen and paper simply cannot hold what the heart does, but I hope you know how profoundly important your work is…how profoundly important you are."

😭😭😭

Having worked with so many people who wanted support around relationships, dating and sexuality after divorce, I know that you aren’t just divorced/divorcing…you’re divorced/divorcing after purity culture, which brings up all kinds of things that other divorced people may not necessarily relate to.

Some of those things include:

• Anger at how following all the purity culture rules didn’t result in happily ever after
• Shame for not “making it work”
• Regrets when it comes to sexuality and relationships
• Grief about lost youth/ not having a typical experience of dating
• Struggling with the weight of others’ opinions on your marriage/ divorce
• Losing faith community
• Loss of identity as a wife or husband
• Judgment from faith community and family about your divorce
• Questions and worry about navigating sex and dating now
• People in your business/ sex life now
• Anxiety about dating/sex when you have little experience
• Feelings of exhilaration (and also terror) about living life without the weight of traditional expectations you once adhered to
• Having healthy romantic/ sexual relationships

Which is why I created the Purity Culture Dropout™ Divorce Support Groups. In these support groups we’ll navigate identity, sexuality, dating, gender expectations, shame, pleasure, family, community, and so much more- all specially tailored to address the niche experience of people who are divorced after purity culture.

One of the most powerful ways to learn and grow is in a supportive community with others who understand your unique experience and have a lot of the same questions and concerns. The testimonial I shared above reinforces what I already know about the power (and need!) for support groups.

I just know that anyone who is divorced / separated / divorcing / separating/ or feel they might be headed that way - after purity culture - will benefit from the Divorce Support Groups.

Will you join us?

Structure: 8 meetings total, 90 minutes each. Each week has a theme/ topic and will include structured, facilitated conversation and prompts.

Groups Begin: The week of Sunday, November 2nd (this weekend!)

There are FOUR groups to choose from, though only a few slots left for a few of them:

• Sundays at 12pm ET
• Tuesdays 7pm ET
• Wednesdays at 9pm ET
• Sundays at 7.30pm ET

A couple of notes:

This is not a religious or religion-based group. Anyone can join regardless of their current relationship to religion.

This group is open to anyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Queer folks (especially those newly discovering their queerness) are very welcome! You decide how to interpret “divorce”- whether you’re just beginning to separate or have been divorced for years, you’re welcome in this group.

Spaces are filling up fast so please get in quick if you think you'd like to be in community with fellow divorcees as you make the journey yourself! The first groups start on SUNDAY! You can join a group up to the day before it begins.

If you have any questions AT ALL, just reply and let me know. And as always, thank you for reading.

Erica

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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