Starks Therapy Group

02/25/2026

If you're interested, reach out today

02/18/2026

Do I need coaching or therapy?
Here is a simple way to think about it.

Therapy often looks backward to heal what still impacts the present.
Trauma, patterns, attachment, anxiety.

Coaching is typically more forward focused.
Goals. Strategy. Accountability.

Neither is better. They just serve different needs.
If you are trying to optimize, coaching might fit.�If you are trying to heal, therapy might be the space.
Choosing the right support matters.

01/30/2026

Curious to learn more? Go to www.ketaminecollective.org

01/29/2026

Q***R ENOUGH, an 8-week therapy & community-building group, will be expertly led by Erica Steenbergen and Prayer Childress. Erica and Prayer both carry a relaxed openness, kind-hearted compassion and enjoyment of life that invites you in, just as you are. If you’re an over-30 q***r woman who is looking for a place of support, connection, growth and belonging, reach out to hello@starkstherapygroup.com or find more info on our website site, link in bio🌈 ***r ***an

01/29/2026

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN / FEW SPOTS LEFT / STARTS SATURDAY / get in on this peer support group for women age 30+ who are looking to get a boost connecting to q***r culture and community. We are excited for those who have already secured their spot and we do have a spot left for you (as of this posting) so let's goooo (link in bio, baby)

01/21/2026

"It feels bizarre to see ketamine splashed across newspapers as a problem while I’m watching it change people’s lives here in my office.

I never want to minimize the real dangers.

And it’s still frustrating to hear it spoken like a four letter word or a cheap shot to make us feel more powerful against abusive leaders or out of touch elites. In fact, it hurts. It’s as if using a story about ketamine to make our cultural villains scarier will make us safer. It won’t.

But those stories will confuse a lot of people who need support, including people who are suffering and people who are simply stuck. Support that thoughtful ketamine use can provide.

And I’m writing this because I want to make room for a more mature conversation, one that doesn’t collapse into hype or fear..." [read full blog]

It feels bizarre to see ketamine splashed across newspapers as a problem while I’m watching it change people’s lives here in my office.I never want to minimize the real dangers.And it’s still frustrating to hear it spoken like a four letter word or a cheap shot to make us feel more powerful ag...

01/21/2026

For many q***r people, coming into identity does not happen early, clearly, or all at once. There is a story we are often told about q***rness that centers early knowing, bold coming out moments, and a sense of certainty that appears almost fully formed. When your own experience does not match that story, it can be easy to feel behind, out of place, or quietly unsure of whether you belong at all.

Late bloomers often carry this uncertainty with them for years. Some grew up without language for what they were feeling. Some were deeply shaped by family expectations, culture, religion, or relationships that made q***rness feel distant or unsafe to explore. Others simply did not experience their q***rness as obvious or urgent until later in life. None of these paths are wrong, but many of them go unnamed.

Blooming later can bring a complicated mix of relief and grief. Relief at finally recognizing yourself more clearly. Grief for the time spent disconnected from that truth, or for experiences you imagine you missed out on. There can be joy alongside self-doubt, clarity alongside lingering questions. Late bloomers often feel both grateful for where they are now and unsure of how to place themselves within q***r community.

For women especially, q***rness is often relational. It may surface in the context of friendship, emotional intimacy, or a slow noticing that the life you built does not quite fit. Many women spend years in heterosexual relationships that are meaningful and real, even as something remains unresolved beneath the surface. Realizing this later does not erase the validity of what came before, it adds depth to their stories.

One of the hardest parts of being a late bloomer is the quiet fear of not being “enough.” Not q***r enough. Not experienced enough. Not confident enough. These fears can make it difficult to take up space, to ask questions, or to trust that your identity is legitimate without proof. The pressure to catch up can be subtle but heavy.

What late bloomers often need is not answers, but room. Room to explore without performing certainty. Room to talk honestly about confusion, attraction, connection, and belonging. Room to be seen as whole and valid even while still becoming.

Q***rness does not expire. There is no deadline for self-recognition.

Being a late bloomer means learning to trust your own timing. It means recognizing that belonging is not something you earn through speed or certainty, but something you grow into through connection and honesty.

If this resonates with you, and you’d like more support for the process, reach out, we’re here to help.

01/14/2026

Our latest newsletter: Q***r (late-bloomers) group for women; new Coaching offerings; invitation and information about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD and more; and {just for the therapists!} our quietly popular Ketamine Collective... read more!

Starks Therapy Group

01/04/2026

Q***R ENOUGH, an 8-week therapy & community-building group, will be expertly led by Erica Steenbergen and Prayer Childress. Erica and Prayer both carry a relaxed openness, kind-hearted compassion and enjoyment of life that invites you in, just as you are. If you’re an over-30 q***r woman who is looking for a place of support, connection, growth and belonging, reach out to hello@starkstherapygroup.com or find more info on our website site, link in bio 🏳️‍⚧️ ***r ***an

12/11/2025

Introducing Q***r Enough: an 8-week therapy & community-building group in Oak Park!

For women who’ve ever wondered whether they’re “q***r enough” to belong, this space was created with you in mind. Together, we’ll explore, discuss, and celebrate q***rness in a way that feels grounded, expansive, and meets you exactly where you are.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, uncertain, or “out of place” in your q***r identity, this group offers a supportive community where you can connect and grow.

Because q***rness is about so much more than sexual attraction – it’s about connection, belonging, and becoming.

When: Saturdays, 10:30am–12:00pm
Where: Starks Therapy Group, Oak Park
From: Jan 31st, 2026 – March 21st, 2026

Space is limited – reach out to hello@starkstherapygroup.com for questions or to claim a spot!

12/03/2025

🌿 Psychedelics are getting a lot of attention lately, but what are we really talking about?

A recent piece from the Petrie-Flom Center reminds us that “psychedelics” isn’t a single story. People use these substances for many different reasons—healing, spirituality, creativity, curiosity—and those differences matter when we talk about safety, research, and policy.

Just like in nature, not everything fits neatly into one category. Slowing down and understanding the full landscape helps us make more grounded, compassionate decisions. 🌱

See Harvard Law's article "What We Talk About When We Talk About Psychedelics"

11/27/2025

In a society that tries to tell us what we have isn’t enough, who we are isn’t enough, what we do isn’t enough… we stop today in a quiet act of defiance and Give Thanks. For what we have. For who we are. Believing, against all hope, that what we do will be enough… and when those moments come when it’s time to say enough is enough, may our voices find strength and our hearts ring true.

May you find peace in the places and postures you call home today.

And if no one tells you today, your one wild and precious life matters. We’re rooting for you.