The Sacred Intimate-- An integrative approach to sexual healing

[SpiralStaircase 1030]

Quickly searched the boards and was surprised to find no mention of this. Highly recommended read for:

 

-Exceptional clients (clients with special needs/accommodations)

-Providers looking to understand why accommodations are necessary and how to deal with them.

-Providers looking to understand the holistic nature of their craft

There are many resources out there, the majority of which are academic in nature and plagued by meticulous vernacular. Give Don Shewey a read. He has published a series of articles related to the subject. He describes an SI as follows:

I like to say that sacred intimates combine the roles of priest, prostitute, and psychotherapist. In other words, they approach sexuality with the understanding that it's related to soul work and to spirituality. They use mindfulness and integrity to help people identify, embrace, and practice desire as holy, sexual embodiment as an expression of the soul. They hold the body as sacred and view erotic energy as a crucial component of human life and spiritual health. Their primary intention is that of healing -- and by healing I mean not just addressing the wounds to the spirit and the flesh caused by sexual abuse, addiction, or disease but also acknowledging that the fun and the pleasure, the vitality and the divine mystery of sex have nourishing properties in and of themselves. That's a message that easily gets lost in a culture that is as ambivalent or sex-negative as ours.

 

Sacred intimacy has a relationship to sex therapy as it developed in the second half of the 20th century with the work of Masters & Johnson and Helen Singer Kaplan, who performed a great service by bringing accurate information about sex to the American public and developed effective treatments for sexual disorders. Sacred intimates may or may not treat dysfunctions, and they generally work from a wellness perspective, not fixing problems but encouraging and expanding sexual joy.

 

Although it would seem like psychotherapy is the field most appropriate for sexual healing, in practice many psychotherapists are terrified of dealing with sexuality, either because they have their own unresolved sexual conflicts or they are afraid of legal liabilities. How often do psychotherapists acknowledge that they themselves have sex lives? How often do they share information about erotic resources or facilitate detailed explorations of masturbation or sexual fantasies? Today psychotherapists are intensely focused on boundaries and shy away from sexuality lest they be perceived as provocative, seductive, or harassing. However, it's possible that deflecting or avoiding sexual issues reinforces shame and cultural repression"

Taken from Don Shewey's article "The Sacred Intimate-- An integrative approach to sexual healing"

[Guest c*6***i*]

When you combine the religious doctrine and social constructs regarding sexuality there's bound to be conflict. So many professions provide intimate and personal care to ensure subsistence but intimate personal care to uplift and experience joy and pleasure is often frowned upon. Are we as a society so afraid to find joy and experience physical fulfilledness (sic) through the aid of experienced professionals?

[CristyCurves 169032]

thank you for posting this it speaks to the point or one of them which I was trying to make in my "why aren't doctors supporting sex workers". Our sexual health is as important as our mental and physical health, they are intertwined and support one another. How anyone relates to and discusses these are important. As ch6radio states though in todays society there is still a fear in experiencing/discussing pleasure. Sex is still a taboo topic, so sad.

[Zigzag 140]

Being new to seeing escorts after a long abstinence from sexual activities due to circumstances that are beyond my control I agree whole heartedly. My mental state of mind has changed and I feel my Vitality once again. SW provide a service that is a required need.

[lilly 10171]

I love my psychiatrist. There is nothing that I have not told him yet, he has never judged me and nothing is taboo. He saved my life many times and has never left my side no matter what I do for income nor anything else. I'm crying now for those that never find this kindly support. It was mentally exhausting trying to find someone to help me with what I could not on my own. Never stop searching, never give up on yourself even if it seems as thought everyone else has. You ARE worthy, we are worthy.

I'll leave the 26 sent emails for another time.

Peace

[Katherine of Halifax 113932]

I love my psychiatrist. There is nothing that I have not told him yet, he has never judged me and nothing is taboo. He saved my life many times and has never left my side no matter what I do for income nor anything else. I'm crying now for those that never find this kindly support. It was mentally exhausting trying to find

someone to help me with what I could not on my own. Never stop searching, never give up on yourself even if it seems as thought everyone else has. You ARE worthy, we are worthy.

I'll leave the 26 sent emails for another time.

Peace

 

We are all worthy . No debate there, however not everyone buys this and if they don't who cares .

I am an alternative provider . Some like me and some have fantasies jus

It gets very juicy them .

Love and light to all

. .

 

 

 

S