Sexy Friday: Pre-teen Sex-Ed and Healthcare Accessibility for Transgender Individuals 28 September 2018 Bliss Team No comments Categories: Individual Therapy, Sex Therapy, Sexual Wellness, Sexy Fridays, Therapy This week, join us for another Sexy Friday to talk about pre-teen sex education and healthcare accessibility for transgender individuals. On this episode, Kelly is joined by Stacey Jacobs again, a sexual health education manager at Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education – SHORE Centre. Deanna Clatworthy, nurse and clinical manager at HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH), in Guelph, Ontario is also on the show today to discuss the healthcare needs and supports available to transgender individuals. Stacey addresses talking to pre-teens about sex, and taking advantage of the many resources available to us. She explains that we shouldn’t avoid answering a question simply because we don’t know the answer. We have access to resources to help us answer these questions, so we should be working toward finding the proper answer to the questions our children ask, instead of avoiding or guessing the correct answer. Another very important suggestion Stacey makes is to watch TV shows and videos with your children. This ensures that you are aware of what they are watching, and can help them navigate complicated or incomplete information. Make sure to be engaged with them, ask them questions about what they are watching and challenge them to critically view the program to challenge the stereotypes. Allow them to talk about gender, gender roles and gender expression, and most importantly, let your child be themselves. Deanna joins Kelly to share with us the health care support that is available to transgender folks, and the knowledge that community members should be responsible for seeking out to ensure a comfortable environment for all. She also talks about gender affirming surgeries, providing further information on what surgeries are accessible and paid for, and the obstacles or lack of support that people may experience during this process. Finally, Deanna addresses the importance of using appropriate language, “It doesn’t cost you anything to call someone by their preferred name, but it means everything to them”. Watch the full episode for more information on these very important topics HERE! Guest Information: Stacey Jacobs Instagram: @shorecentrewr Deanna Clatworthy Twitter: @ARCHguelph
Sexy Friday: Menstruation, Sex Education and Therapy 21 September 2018 Bliss Team No comments Categories: Self Care, Sex Therapy, Sexual Wellness, Sexy Fridays This week’s Sexy Friday blog focuses on a number of important topics, including menstruation, strengthening relationships, and how chronic illnesses and disability affect self-love, relationships and sexuality. There is a lot of valuable information packed into this 30-minute episode of Sex Talk with Kelly, so we definitely recommend checking out the full episode! Kelly invited some wonderful guests to join her for this episode, including Kristen Schultz, a sex educator, activist and writer, Stacey Jacobs, a sexual health education manager at Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education – SHORE Centre, and Bliss Counselling’s very own Tammy Benwell. Kristen addresses the ways in which our education system has failed us with its lack of representation, explaining that the education we receive reflects a society that is solely abled, cisgendered, and reproductive focussed. In addition to these major concerns, Kristen explains how things become even more complicated for individuals with disabilities, or those suffering from illnesses. Kristen emphasizes the importance of conversations, “Be open. Open hearted and have open conversation”. We are so thankful for Kristen’s wealth of information, and willingness to share her own personal experience with chronic illness and sex. This is an important conversation that you will definitely learn so much from! Thanks, Kristen! Kelly is then joined by Stacey, who addresses the importance of talking about menstruation and how to talk to kids about sex. She explains that it is important for schools and families to provide appropriate information about menstruation, and the need to discuss it in a positive light so as not to scare or confuse young people. “It is important for people to feel empowered by their bodies, not annoyed or frustrated”. Addressing sex education, she explains that children model adult behaviour, and that it is important to be mindful of this and to model consent for your children by asking before you touch them, and reminding them to ask before they touch you. Additionally, it is important to be honest with children in an age appropriate manner. Lastly, she explains that it’s crucial to ask your children questions as well, and not to wait for them to ask you, because they may not. Finally, Kelly is joined by Bliss Counselling therapist, Tammy Benwell to talk about the strategies you and your partner can implement to strengthen your bond. Tammy explains that your relationship therapist is your supporter, lean on them to prevent the problems from getting worse. Tammy provides both individual and relationship therapy at Bliss Counselling. To watch the full episode, follow the link HERE! Guest Information: Kristen Schultz Twitter: @chronicsexchat Instagram: @chronic_self_love Stacey Jacobs Instagram: @shorecentrewr Tammy Benwell, Bliss therapist
Sexy Friday: Sex After Kids, Low Desire & Anal Play for Beginners 13 July 2018 Bliss Team No comments Categories: Relationship Therapy, Relationships, Sex Therapy, Sexual Wellness, Sexy Fridays Welcome to yet another Sexy Friday here at Bliss Counselling! Today we are excited to share with you another episode of “Sex Talk with Kelly”. During this episode, Kelly is joined by Jo Flannery (clinical sexologist), Dr. Martin Dragan (clinical sexologist) and Dianne from the Stag Shop! Kelly and Jo start the episode off with an insightful conversation about sex after kids, explaining that you shouldn’t feel pressured to go back to the same type of sex life that you had before kids. The experience is new; so don’t feel pressured to force something that no longer fits naturally into your life. Later, Dr. Dragan discusses desire, “You don’t go to a movie just to watch the ten minute climax. This should be the same with sex. It doesn’t need to be goal-oriented. It’s about continuously building on the dynamic and focusing on the experience throughout”. Hmm, sounds pretty similar to what Kelly was saying in last week’s Sexy Friday blog post. Great minds think alike! To wrap up the session, Dianne from the Stag Shop joins Kelly to give the 4-1-1 on anal play and sex for beginners, from lube to beads and everything in between! To watch the full episode and get some fun and sexy tips, click HERE! We are delighted that you’ve taken the time to check out our Sexy Friday blog and open your mind to a world of spicy possibilities! Keep your eye out for next week’s Sexy Friday! Guest information: Jo Flannery Twitter: @SEXOLOGYMag Instagram: @sexologyint Dr. Martin Dragan Twitter: @martindragan Dianne Twitter: @stagshop Instagram: @stagshop Do you have any questions for us? We’re happy to help! Feel free to get in touch with us here. If you’re interested in booking your first appointment with Bliss, you can do that here.