When news about high-profile abuse cases resurfaces, it can reopen emotional and bodily wounds for survivors. This article explores why renewed attention to the Epstein files may trigger trauma responses, including fear, anger, or numbness. Learn about trauma reactivation, collective trauma, and compassionate ways to navigate triggering media while honoring your healing journey.

Is Sexual Chemistry About Looks… or Something More? Is chemistry about what you see—or what you feel? Shows like Love Is Blind challenge everything we think we know about attraction. On Love Is Blind , contestants fall in love — and sometimes claim intense sexual chemistry — without ever seeing each other. No eye contact. No body language. No physical cues. Just voices, vulnerability, and escalating flirtation through a wall. As a sex and relationship therapist, I found mys

Sometimes the smallest cues carry the biggest meaning—initiation often begins with a glance, not a grand gesture. Initiating sex shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes performance review. And yet, for so many long-term couples, that’s exactly what it becomes. I hear this all the time in my therapy office:  “We love each other. We’re close. We’re best friends. But when it comes to starting sex… we freeze.” If that resonates, you’re not broken—and neither is your relationship. What

When Valentine’s Day expectations collide with loneliness and pressure. Valentine’s Day is marketed as the most romantic day of the year—filled with candlelit dinners, thoughtful gifts, and passionate sex. But for many couples, the reality looks very different. Instead of connection, Valentine’s Day often brings disappointment, pressure, resentment, or even conflict. As a sex and relationship therapist, I see the aftermath of Valentine’s Day every year in my therapy office. C

A pop-culture moment that perfectly captures how orgasm can become a performance rather than an honest experience. You've probably seen it in movies (hello, When Harry Met Sally ) or maybe you've even done it yourself—faking an orgasm. It’s a topic loaded with cultural baggage, personal emotion, and sexual misconceptions. But why do so many women pretend to climax during sex? And what does it mean for their sexual satisfaction, self-esteem, and relationships? As a sex therapi

When desire doesn’t show up, it’s rarely about attraction. It’s often about stress, burnout, and everything that happened before getting into bed. It’s easy to assume that low desire or sexual dissatisfaction must mean something’s wrong with your hormones—or your relationship. But in reality, for most people, sexual disconnection starts long before they ever get into bed. The truth is, many of us are unintentionally sabotaging our own sex lives through the everyday choices we

What Pornhub’s 2025 Year in Review reveals about changing sexual culture, curiosity, and connection. Every year, Pornhub’s Year in Review offers a rare view into the world of adult content consumption. Much like the Kinsey Reports  revolutionized our understanding of sexual behavior in the mid-20th century, Pornhub’s data—millions of search terms and billions of visits aggregated across global users—has become a de facto cultural snapshot of sexual interests and online behavi

Pleasure is personal — and sex toys can be powerful tools for self-connection, healing, and deeper intimacy. For decades, sex toys were whispered about in hushed tones or hidden in the back of adult stores. But today, they’re mainstream — used by millions of people (and recommended by therapists like me) as powerful tools for pleasure, connection, and even healing. Now if you’re reading this, you might know me as a sex and relationship therapist — but what you might not know

When sex starts feeling like another task on the list, it’s usually a sign of deeper emotional or relational disconnect. You’re not broken. You’re human. If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Ugh, do we have to?”  when your partner initiates sex, you’re not alone. So many couples hit this point — where intimacy starts feeling like another task on an already packed to-do list. And it’s not because something is wrong  with you or your relationship. It’s because desire, conn

When arousal doesn’t go as expected, it can bring shame or worry—but it doesn’t have to. How you respond in that moment can deepen trust and connection. When sex doesn’t go according to plan, it can feel awkward, confusing, or even triggering. One of the most common examples I see in my practice as a sex therapist is when a partner loses their erection during sex. In that moment, both people often freeze — unsure of what to say, what it means, or what to do next. The truth? I

Struggling to keep the spark alive in your long-term relationship? Learn why sexual desire naturally changes over time and discover practical, research-backed ways to reignite passion. This guide explores Esther Perel’s “paradox of desire,” spontaneous vs. responsive desire, and the dual-control model to help you and your partner sustain intimacy, connection, and pleasure for years to come.

Think No Nut November boosts focus or testosterone? Research says otherwise. Here’s what the science really shows about abstinence, masturbation, and sexual health.

Struggling with low libido? Learn how emotional disconnection—not hormones alone—shapes desire and intimacy. Discover tools to reignite connection.

When people think about sex, they often focus on foreplay, pleasure, or the act itself. But what happens afterward can be just as important—sometimes even more so. Sexual aftercare, or the intentional care partners give one another following intimacy, plays a powerful role in building trust, fostering emotional closeness, and healing from past wounds. It can be as simple as cuddling or as intentional as discussing what felt good and what didn’t. As a sex therapist, I often re

Healing after pregnancy loss takes time, tenderness, and support. You’re not alone in navigating intimacy, grief, and connection during this journey. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and October 15 marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. For many couples, this time of year invites mixed emotions. Grief, love, confusion, and hope all intermingle, especially when you’re navigating intimacy after a pregnancy loss. Because sexual connection is often

Your fantasies aren’t strange. They’re human. Nearly everyone has them, and exploring yours can be a doorway to deeper self-understanding...

Intimacy grows when we approach it with curiosity, not pressure. Sex is one of the most personal and powerful aspects of our lives—yet...

Wondering if it’s okay to fantasize about things your partner doesn’t enjoy? Learn what science says about fantasies, desire, and intimacy.

When you picture someone who owns a sex doll, what comes to mind? For some, the image is shaped by TV shows, late-night jokes, or...

As a mom and sex therapist, I share 12 sex-positive lessons I want my daughters to know—about consent, pleasure, safety, identity, and intimacy.