What is Sex-Positive Counselling?
I consider myself a sex-positive counsellor… but what exactly is sex-positivity?
Sex-positivity recognizes the risks of sexuality, without considering it as primarily problematic (Williams et al., 2015). This paradigm acknowledges that there is more to sexuality than biology, appreciates sexuality for its pleasurable aspects, and welcomes discussions about the diverse expressions and attitudes related to sexuality. Furthermore, it considers the impact of existing power dynamics on sexuality (Sexuality Education Resource Centre, n.d.). Sex-positivity is the antidote to the medicalizing framework, which is the dominant model for discussing sexuality in counselling settings across North America (Mollen et al., 2018). Sex-positivity is the foundation for deconstructing the restrictive patriarchal discourse around sexuality in therapy.
As a society, we tend to avoid transparent conversations about sexuality. Therapy offers a context for safe and open conversations about sexuality-related concerns.
References
Mollen, D., Burnes, T., Lee, S., & Abbott, D. M. (2018). Sexuality training in counseling psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 33(3), 375-392. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2018.1553146
Sexuality Education Resource Centre. (2018, June 12). Sex-positivity. SERC. https://serc.mb.ca/sexual-health-info/the-basics/what-is-sexuality/sex-positivity/
Williams, D., Thomas, J., Prior, E., & Walters, W. (2015). Introducing a multidisciplinary framework of positive sexuality. Journal of Positive Sexuality, 1(1), 6-11. https://doi.org/10.51681/1.112
