One thing my guest, Claire Perelman, and I agree on is that we don’t talk enough about sex with the people we have it with… even though it can make the entire experience safer and more pleasurable. You’ll come away from this episode with scripts and tips for bringing up conversations that are so important but can be kinda awkward.
My guest, Claire Perelman (a certified sex therapist), and I covered so much ground in this brand-new episode all about sex. We talked about creating safety with new partners, how to deal with a lack of experience, having same-gender sex for the first time and healing sexual trauma. We also answer a listener question at the end about how to deal with a bad texter.
About Claire Perelman
Claire Perelman (she/her) is a Queer, Jewish Sex Therapist living and working in the Bay Area. She is passionate about helping people rediscover play, pleasure, and abundance in their sexuality. Relationships have been the source of her greatest pleasure and heartbreak, which led her to specialize in working with couples, individuals, and polycules around sex and intimacy. You can find her at @sexclarified (on all platforms) and www.sexclarified.com.
Here’s what we get into in this episode:
- Why Claire became a sex therapist
- The surprisingly common issues Claire sees in her practice when it comes to sex and dating
- The difference between social media advice and working with a professional
- How to approach the decision to have sex with a new partner
- Common challenges inside/outside the bedroom that someone experiences if they’ve had sexual trauma
- What steps to take to rebuild trust and safety
- Types of therapy or modalities that are helpful for survivors to reclaim their sexuality
- Tips for communicating pacing and taking it slow when it comes to sex
- How to approach consent without killing the mood
- Navigating sex when you lack experience and if you’re newly out as queer
- Best dating advice for a newly out bisexual or queer person
- Unexpected differences between queer and straight dating
- Building a sense of safety with a new partner
- Giving/taking feedback
I hope you enjoyed this episode!