5 Resources To Connect With Your Sexual Self
Sex is still largely shrouded by stigma in our society, but sexual wellness is incredibly important for our overall health and wellbeing. Because of the stigma and shame too often surrounding conversations about sex, pleasure, and possible (and very common and normal!) sexual challenges for an individual or couple, most of the time we opt not to talk about it or engage at all. If you want to learn more about sex, sexual wellbeing, and get more in touch with your sexual self overall, the resources below are wonderful ways to get started in whichever mode you learn and engage best.
Read: Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski, PhD.
A wonderful read on pleasure. This is written specifically for people with vulvas, everyone would benefit greatly due to the myth-busting about what’s “normal” in sex and how our bodies actually function sexually.
2. Listen & Resource Hub: Sex With Emily Podcast, with Dr. Emily Morse.
Dr. Morse has a whole catalog of podcast episodes about all things sex: including how to manage body image shame in your sexual life, relational challenges, tips on how to experience more pleasure, and so much more. Give the episode topics you’re wondering about a listen!
3. Communication Help: How To Identify & Share Your [Sexual] Needs With Your Partner
If you are in a relationship or a sexual partner, you may find that it feels really difficult (awkward, confusing, uncomfortable, etc.) to communicate what you want sexually. This is a great video that provides some communication skills so you can get the conversation rolling without wanting to hide for the next week!
4. Somatic & Mind-body: Trauma-Informed Yoga To Promote Sexual Wellness
We don’t know very much about the brain, but one thing we do know is that the mind and body are incredibly connected - and this is especially relevant when we’re talking about sex. If you’ve experienced sexual trauma, or have other experiences related to sex or messaging around sex that have made things challenging, it might be helpful to focus on your mind-body connection to help start to heal or re-frame what you’ve experienced.
5. Providers: International Society For The Study Of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWHS) Provider Directory
If you’re finding that you want some individual or couples-focused counseling or help with connecting to your sexual self, there are trained sex therapists, OBGYNs, and more who are there to help. This may be especially beneficial if you are a sexual trauma survivor. This directory includes a list of providers that are certified by the ISSWHS as quality, trauma-informed clinicians who are excited to connect with you.