Posts tagged Marin county EMDR therapist
Beyond Childhood Trauma: Embracing Emotional Decolonization for True Healing and Liberation

As mental health professionals, clinicians, and healers, we are being called to deepen our practice and commitment to healing. It is not enough to focus solely on childhood trauma and individual therapeutic work. We must engage in the ongoing process of emotional decolonization—examining the ways in which systems of oppression have shaped our understanding of trauma and healing. This requires unlearning and relearning, challenging our biases, and continually asking how we can show up in ways that promote true liberation, not just for individuals but for communities.

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Healing the Wounds of an Absent Father in the Puella Archetype: A Bay Area Psychologist's Exploration

As I learned during Susan E. Shwartz’s lecture, the journey of the puella is one of unfolding. It’s about moving from a place of dependency and fear into a state of self-awareness, confidence, and emotional maturity. The absence of a father may have left a deep mark on the psyche, but through depth therapy, individuals can heal the father wound, reclaim their inner authority, and step into a more empowered version of themselves.

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How Fantasy as a Trauma Response Can Lead to Dissociation: Insights from a Marin County Sex Therapist and Bay Area Psychologist

However, while dissociating through fantasy may protect someone from confronting their trauma head-on, it can also delay healing. Over time, reliance on fantasy can inhibit healthier coping strategies and prevent individuals from fully processing their traumatic experiences. In relationships and daily life, excessive use of fantasy may cause difficulty in staying grounded in the present, hindering authentic connections with others.

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The 8 Reasons Women Stay in Abusive Relationships: A Bay Area Psychologist Perspective

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it’s important for everyone – not only domestic violence survivors – to understand it’s not so easy for a person to extricate themselves from an abusive situation. The reasons women stay in abusive relationships are multifaceted, involving fear, financial dependence, concern for children, emotional manipulation, hope for change, social pressures, and lack of support. Understanding these reasons is essential for developing effective interventions and support systems to help women safely exit abusive situations.

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Marin County Sex Therapist’s Take on Dave Grohl’s Affair

And I can say in my experience as a Marin County sex therapist, it’s important to acknowledge that people change and relationships do as well. That’s why relational educational work such as developing communication skills and setting and maintaining boundaries is vital. Healthy relationships require these skills and at the same time, no one is perfect.

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Unresolved Trauma and Its Impact on Current Relationships: A Perspective from Marin County EMDR therapist

Trauma, whether emotional or physical, leaves an indelible mark on the psyche. Emotional abuse can include verbal attacks, emotional manipulation, and neglect of emotional needs. Physical abuse encompasses acts of violence or physical harm, while neglect involves the failure to meet basic emotional and physical needs. When these experiences remain unresolved, they create deep-seated fears and defensive mechanisms that can persist into adulthood. These fears often include anxiety about pain, abandonment, and rejection—experiences that were once life-threatening or profoundly hurtful.

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Reconnecting with Your Inner World: The Transformative Journey After Stopping Cannabis Use

The process of reconnecting with one’s inner world and emotionality after ceasing cannabis use is a profound journey of self-discovery and healing. With the support of a therapist, particularly one trained in psychedelic integration, individuals can navigate this journey with greater ease and insight. Therapy provides the tools, support, and understanding needed to transform this challenging period into an opportunity for deep emotional and psychological growth, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

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The Challenges of Being a Partner During Gender Transition

If you’re navigating the complexities of being a partner during a gender transition and need support, I’m here to help. As a sex therapist, I specialize in guiding individuals and couples through these challenging times. Reach out here to set up an appointment.

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Are You Practicing Outercourse? It Can Enhance Your Sex Life

If you're interested in exploring how outercourse and other aspects of sexual intimacy can enhance your relationship with yourself or your partner, I can help. As a sex therapist, I specialize in guiding individuals and couples through these important conversations and experiences. Reach out here to set up an appointment and start your journey towards a more fulfilling sexual and intimate life.

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Understanding Sacrificial Helping Syndrome: A Perspective for Early Career Psychologists

Having a solid container of clinical consultation can reduce the possibility of SHS. I offer individual and group consultation You can find out more here.

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Fear of Intimacy: A Seasoned Sex Therapist’s Perspective

With awareness, compassion, and a willingness to confront past wounds, it is possible to overcome the fear of intimacy and embrace the vulnerability that intimacy requires. As a Marin County sex therapist, it is deeply rewarding to work with clients who move through these fears and into more fulfilling, connected relationships.

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A Bay Area Sex Therapist’s Guide to Understanding Foot Fetishes

In a sex-positive framework, which I practice as a Bay Area sex therapist and psychologist, consensual adult sexual expressions are valid and worthy of respect. This means I view foot fetishes not as a disorder or abnormality but as a natural variation of human sexuality. The sex-positive approach is grounded in the belief that sexual diversity is a normal and healthy part of life. It challenges the notion that only certain types of sexual expressions are acceptable and encourages people to explore and express their sexuality in ways that feel authentic and fulfilling to them.

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A Sex Therapist’s View: How Emotionally Immature Parents Impact Their Kid’s Adult Relationships

Growing up with emotionally immature parents presents significant challenges to understanding a person’s sexual self and forming healthy intimate relationships. However, with targeted therapeutic interventions, people can learn to navigate these complexities, fostering a healthier and more fulfilling sexual and relational life.

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A Revolutionary Act of Self-Care in Challenging Times

I’ve also seen that minding your own business can help your interpersonal relationships. Respecting others’ autonomy instead of telling them what to do, fosters mutual respect and trust. When you refrain from unnecessary interference, you show that you trust others to handle their own lives, which can strengthen bonds and improve communication. Doing so encourages a more supportive and less judgmental atmosphere and allows relationships to thrive in a healthier, more balanced manner.

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Honoring Sex Therapist Dr. Ruth

It was in the 1980s when she became a celebrity, frankly discussing sex on her popular late-night radio show, Sexually Speaking. She was in her 50s at that time, a Crone. So often, women at that age and stage of life face ageism and are portrayed as asexual or “dried up.” When sex is discussed for elderly folx, it’s often as a punchline. Dr. Ruth showed that sex remains important in midlife and beyond.

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Marin County Sex Therapist Reveals 8 Tips for Sex Positivity

We live in a society where trans folx are under attack just for being themselves which means there are unique challenges to exploring their sexuality such as body dysphoria, societal stigma, and limited access to affirming sexual health resources. As a Marin County sexologist, I’m an advocate for everyone having a healthy, satisfying sex life, and that includes trans folx. What follows are eight tips for how to do that.

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Connect with the Untamed Vitality within to Heal Yourself

Embracing s’alka can encourage my clients to explore and integrate these raw, natural aspects of their identity which can create a fuller, more balanced sense of self. This approach can help them break free from societal or self-imposed constraints and allow them to experience greater authenticity and freedom.

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Marin County Sex Therapist on The Erasure of Bisexuality and Why It Matters

Promoting bisexual visibility is essential. Positive representation in media, literature, and public discourse can help normalize bisexuality and provide role models for those struggling with their identity. By seeing their experiences reflected and validated, bisexual individuals can gain the confidence to embrace their true selves.

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Corporate Sponsorship vs. Genuine Support During Pride

LGBTQIA+ organizations must maintain their autonomy and grassroots connections while engaging with corporate partners thoughtfully. Consumers, in turn, can support businesses that demonstrate genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion beyond Pride Month. Far too many, like Target, are fair-weather friends.

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Addiction is a Trauma Response, Marin County Psychologist Says

In my work as a Marin County psychologist, I take a trauma-informed approach to addiction treatment that creates a supportive and non-judgmental environment. I approach addiction with compassion and this can help reduce the shame and stigma often associated with both trauma and addiction. This encourages individuals to seek help and engage more fully in the therapeutic process.

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