March - A focus on sex positivity

The therapists we've featured here are sex positive and kink aware.

Let's talk about sex positivity

At TherapyDen, our attitude towards human sexuality regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable. We don't judge or shame sexual outsiders.

Community leaders voice out

Sex positivity is so much more that being an advocate for people having sex, a definition a lot of people attribute to the term. Sex positivity to me means that a person has informed consent, education, emotional support, emotional/mental capacity and full agency in making decisions about their body, including the choice not to have sex. A part of being sex positive that calls us beyond the counseling room is that as counselors, we have an ethical responsibility to motivate and bring about change in the greater society around culture and oppression. One example for this is the destigmatization of things such as STI status. Many people think that if someone has something like genital herpes, they don’t deserve to have sex with other people because of the risk of infection. However, to be truly sex positive, we must not give in to the media hysteria around those that have STIs because the fact is, their rates of transmission vary based on the stages of herpes and many people do safely have sex with STI-positive sex. Relatedly, another aspect of sex positivity that is important is that sex education that is provided must always be empirically face yet medically accurate. Lastly, like with all types of therapy, sex positivity must be accompanied with a heavy dose of non-judgment and unconditional positive regard. We must confront our own attitudes about sex, relationships, consent and morality around these issues an order for us to decrease our biased so don’t express judgment in ways that are even subconscious for not apparent to ourselves.

Caitlin Bovard, Sex Therapist

 

Being 'sex positive' means having a broader understanding of the connections between our experiences as sexual beings and our well-being and relationships with ourselves and others. And in order to make that understanding useful to clients, also required is a deep clarity and comfort with our own sexuality. It helps to have enough experienced knowledge that feeling "shocked" is not on the table -- in fact, because of the many dominant cultures' pressures toward shame, a sex positive therapist must convey a sense of reassuring safety that empowers clients to not only share and process what they need to but to also see themselves in a different light. In Houston, a major hub for sex trafficking, the need for sex positive professionals takes on a nuanced light. A fine balancing acts is required of therapists working with clientele who may be engaged in sexual social circles that are or have been beyond their control. The "positivity" that is required is not specifically or necessarily to convey 'approval' or even 'acceptance' in some clients' situations. Narrative therapy techniques as proposed by Michael White and others can provide rich resources for clients regarding sexuality and sex.

Tracy Morris, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Therapists that are sex positive and kink friendly

  • Emily Shefer

    Emily Shefer

    AMFT #128361

    Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
    Valencia, CA 91355

  • Elizabeth Savettiere

    Elizabeth Savettiere

    LMHC, LPC

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor
    New York, NY 10016

  • Michele Finkelstein

    Michele Finkelstein

    MSW, LCSW, C-DBT

    Psychotherapist
    Asheville, NC 28806

  • Brionna Yanko

    Brionna Yanko

    MSW, LCSW, CLC

    Psychotherapist
    Denver, CO 80202

  • Jessica Aycock

    Jessica Aycock

    LCSW, MSW

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • Anna Hope

    Anna Hope

    MS, LPC

    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Houston, TX 77005

  • Dr. jennifer Mcmanus

    Dr. jennifer Mcmanus

    Licensed Psychologist

    Psychologist
    Jacksonville, FL 32205

  • Trisha Bassett

    Trisha Bassett

    LPC

    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

  • Susie Flack

    Susie Flack

    LMHC

    Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
    Tacoma, WA 98406

  • Margaret Mcneal

    Margaret Mcneal

    MA

    Associate Professional Counselor
    Portland, OR 97232

  • Shelby Hill

    Shelby Hill

    MA, LPCA

    Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
    Lexington, KY 40517

  • Lynlee Weber

    Lynlee Weber

    LICSW

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker
    Lacey, WA 98503

  • Andrew Triska

    Andrew Triska

    MSW, LCSW

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker
    New York, NY 10017

  • Anna Basov

    Anna Basov

    Psy.D.

    Clinical Psychologist
    Northbrook, IL 60062

  • Brian Zirngible

    Brian Zirngible

    Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

    Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
    Burnsville, MN 55337