Lately, I’ve been thinking about the ongoing conversations about sexual assault and the expectations people have for survivors after trauma. When a case becomes public, it often elicits differing opinions and misconceptions... Read more »
The conventional wisdom declares that child sex abuse (CSA) is so horrendous, so traumatic, so psychologically devastating that survivors, overwhelmingly women, develop long-term post-traumatic stress disorder and deep fears of partner sex,... Read more »
As a sex therapist and an educator, I keep thinking about what the “Cornell 7” case is illuminating. A brief overview: A woman, publicly identified as Jane Doe, has sued Cornell and... Read more »
This is part 1 of a two-part post. Part 2 will explore the sexual underbelly: our motivation and intent in desire, and communication about sex. If we truly listened to ourselves, we... Read more »
You’ve probably heard that microplastics are everywhere. They’re in the ocean, in the air, in your food, and in your water. But here’s something that might hit closer to home. They’re also... Read more »
Internalized heterosexism refers to the internalization of societal stigma and negative attitudes toward same-gender sexuality, leading individuals to feel negatively about their own sexual orientation. This self-stigma can cause significant mental health... Read more »
Defining the Terms of Sexual Assault The first step in helping patients who are survivors of sexual trauma is allowing them to choose the words they may want to use to describe... Read more »
Sexual trauma leaves an imprint that extends beyond the emotional and psychological realm—it can also manifest in deeply distressing physical symptoms. The body manifests trauma in multiple ways, often responding with stress-related... Read more »
Depending on the study, up to one-third of women and half of men feel badly about their genitals. Dissatisfied men usually say their penises are too small. Dissatisfied women usually say their... Read more »
Nicotera, N., Connolly, M. M., Jawdat, L., & Ostrow, L. (2024). A qualitative study examining the lived experiences of stress among female sexual assault survivors in an 8-week trauma-sensitive yoga intervention. Traumatology, 30(2),... Read more »