Sex and Sexuality
Sex is a taboo subject, despite it being required for our existence. Having a healthy relationship with sex, desire, arousal, and orgasm are all achievable goals. Sex is an area that we can see symptoms of other challenges in a relationship, with our self-esteem, with stress and othe mental health challenges. Helping you achieve satisfaction in your erotic life results in not just better, more fulfilling sex, but overall life improvements.
Our culture has not always been taboo around talking about sex and its importance in life. The United States has seen waves of influence in our culture that have various consequences, where at times eroticism or pleasure are seen as negatives, moral failings or religious sins. This profoundly shapes the relationship we then have when approaching it, and the cultural expectations we have for what sex "should" be can often times put pressure on you to engage or not engage in ways that don't align with your or your partner's interest.
CD Therapy LLC takes a sex-positive approach. Sexual behaviors are not measured as "normal" or "abnormal"; they are approached as equally valid and acceptable barring no one is harmed without consent. Work seen in these sessions can include kink, consensual nonmonogamy/polyamory, fantasy work, sex drives that are higher or lower than what functions in our life, painful sex, difficulty with maintaining erections or orgasming.
Sexual orientation relates to the gender of those to whom we are sexually attracted. Your sexual orientation can bring about specific experiences in the world, and particular challenges unique to how you identify. Couples who identify in the LGBTQIA+ community can face stressors unique to the orientations of the couple. Discrimination, sexual interests, and role expectations can divert from heteronormative assumptions that require additional considerations.
Gender identity refers to our self-perception of our alignment with societally-defined gender roles. Navigating self reflection in gender identity, gender expression, discrimination, and gender-affirming care can bring on additional needs for support. You need a therapist who is clinically competent and who stays up to date with advancements in gender-affirming care and supporting those who are struggling with gender dysphoria, as we work to allow you to feel confident in your gender identity and to express in the ways that feel most content for you.
CD Therapy LLC are allies and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community and work to ensure clearly established safety for our clients.
Courtney Davey is a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional from the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.