Sex therapy isn’t just about sex – it’s about expression and pleasure and communication. Yes, I’ve worked with people experiencing vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, hypo- and hyperarousal (to name a few), but ultimately what I care about is connecting the body and mind.

As an aside, everything from casual hook-up sex to committed monogamous has room for communication as a way to increase safety, pleasure, and fun. Pleasure and anxiety cannot coexist so remember when you are playing, if anxiety is up, voice it to your partner(s)

Lack of honesty and lack of connection (true connection and acknowledgment) of one’s desires can be traced back to a yearning to stay safe, to protect the constructed self.

How do you identify your boundaries? A good clue comes from feelings. Are you uncomfortable, resentful, stressed, anxious, or fearful? All signs that perhaps your boundaries have been crossed. When boundaries are set and adhered to,

Spending time alone is challenging for many people because it’s not a skill we are taught and there’s pressure in society to not be alone. Restaurants have tables for two, wedding invitations ask if you’re bringing a plus one, and for single folx, a recurring question is, “Are you dating anyone?”

This pandemic is giving us the opportunity to have that emotional revolution because there’s a shared vulnerability. Everyone is impacted by COVID-19 so it’s an easy question to ask someone, “How are you doing?” and encourage an authentic response.

Focusing is subtle and intricate. It has been applied widely in the fields of psychology, medicine, education, conflict resolution, parenting, and decision-making. Perhaps if Focusing was applied to politics, we would see some much-needed improvements in the U.S. in particular.

Mindfulness is a practice that can be applied to many areas of life, arguably all, from sex to driving, to washing the dishes to walking, and yes, even and especially, to eating. Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from

Perhaps I should back up and make sure we are all on the same page regarding sex and gender. Sex is biological. It is vulva. It is penis. It is scrotum. It is uterus. It is anatomy, the reproductive system and the secondary characteristics. Gender is expression of femaleness and maleness and everything in between.

You know you are embodied when you feel that pit in your stomach that says, “Stay away!” or “Move closer!” to a particular person, event ,or situation. While you have to be embodied to receive that message, whether you consciously listen

I’d like to talk about ecstatic dance, which should perhaps be called enstatic dance instead. Continue reading to find out why. First off, what does ecstasy mean? From a research standpoint, not much exists on the philosophical state of ecstasy.

When I think about the pandemic from the perspective of a marathon, it’s absolutely crucial that anyone in a healing/helping profession paces themselves, that they take breaks, and also that they say no. I’m here for the long run (literally), running a long race

In my work as a psychologist, I notice traditional talk therapy can be an intellectualized process, meaning the body isn’t involved much. When it comes to the unconscious, it’s much harder to access via the intellect although that can happen via free association, slips of the tongue, and dreamwork.

Historically, psychology as a field has heavily focused on the brain–and arguably, the mind as localized above the neckline–as being the way out in terms of psychological freedom. In the past, the field of psychology has overlooked the body and the role of spirituality.

Ultimately, when it comes to meeting in person again, there are multiple variables to keep in mind – the patient’s health, therapist’s health, state guidelines. These are not decisions to take lightly and will require multiple conversations with patients and other stakeholders.

The following are other things to do when you’re in the throes of anxiety due to uncertainty:

· Focus on what you can control – the time you spend reading the news, how frequently you apply for jobs, etc.

One of the most profound acts you can do right now is listen. Listening is an act that is profound for both the listener and the one being listened to. Whether they’re dealing with intense emotions around racism or the global pandemic (or both!), active listening can offer much-needed support.

It’s a taboo topic in 12-step groups: the use of psychedelics to aid recovery. I’ve worked with patients, clients, and students who felt ostracized and bullied if they spoke about using ibogaine or psilocybin or ayahuasca (three common psychedelics showing promising results in addiction recovery)

The history of the police also plays into the narrative we’re witnessing right now – a desire to maintain order and concern for property more than black and brown lives. We see this not only in curfews and the response from police departments to use tear gas and rubber bullets on activists,

A good portion of my work has always been online, such as work with international clients and students, leadership development, and executive coaching clients through my industrial organizational psychology work. However, these days I’m finding that much more of the work