Brave Love Great Sex – Couples Therapy Podcast

In this Foreplay Replay we discuss what to do if your partner has been sexually traumatized in their past? From big traumas of date rape, sexual assault, or groped to serial sexism or shaming messages about sex. Each trauma has an individual impact. Join sex therapist and author Laurie Watson and psychotherapist Dr. Adam Mathews as they discuss how to relate to a lover who has had trauma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's foreplay replay we discuss how our communication with our lovers (and others) can be broken down into discrete bids for attention and interactions. In this episode of Foreplay, sex therapist and author Laurie Watson and psychotherapist Dr. Adam Mathews discuss the role these bids play in seduction and sex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! In today's episode, we're diving into the experience of low-orgasm or the absence of orgasm for some. It's a common concern that can lead to frustration and distance, yet it's something many couples struggle to talk about openly. Join Laurie and George as they explore the physical, psychological, and relational factors that can impact the capacity for orgasm. We'll discuss how to shift the focus from the 'goal' to the 'process' of pleasure, how to communicate needs effectively without pressure, and how to increase comfort and connection in the bedroom. Listen in for practical strategies to expand your sexual repertoire and foster more satisfying, intimate experiences together. Don't forget to grab your copy of our book, Brave Love, Great Sex, available everywhere! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! Have you ever said something to your partner that didn't land well? You backtrack and try to explain your intent but they are still hurting and now angry. If you have, then this episode is for you! Join our hosts, Laurie and George as they share what happens when the impact hits hard and the attempt to explain the intent falls flat. Listeners will learn how to hold both truths, have clean communication around the event and improve their timing. It's important to remember that even with good intentions your partner can still feel hurt. Acknowledging their hurt will move the conversation closer to connection while explanation will create disconnection. Make sure to grab a copy of our bestseller Brave Love, Great Sex, available everywhere! Please help the pod by checking out this episode's sponsor: Uberlube.com -- Laurie's 20+ year favorite personal lubricant. Use the code 'BraveLove' at checkout! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! If you don't want to have sex and your partner always does this is the episode for you! Join hosts, Laurie and George as they expand on the world of the sexual withdrawer. We explore why the sexual withdrawer may shut down when the pressure cycle is on; past trauma, relational issues, resent or just downright bad sex and provide the valuable language withdrawers need to communicate to their pursuing partners. We get curious and ask what does not wanting to have sex mean and how the withdrawer can pay attention to what is happening inside of them. Their excellent role play walks listeners through a bad take and good conversation. You'll take away ways to identify what is happening when I don't want to have sex, where that shut down is coming from, how to share and better express needs. Want more help here? Our book is out now! Pick up a copy of Brave Love, Great Sex today!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! In today's episode we are discussing the role and inner world of the sexual pursuer. Join Laurie and George for an expert role play to learn how the sexual pursuer can clearly communicate their feelings and needs without defense and blame. They highlight that the pursuer often focuses on changing the behavior of the withdrawer but it is more effective when they can share their vulnerability to their partner. Our hosts remind us that initiating sex is a secure move in a relationship. The anxiety that develops is problematic and creates the negative cycle. Listen in to learn how to stay present with your own experience, communicate securely and work with your partner regarding your sexual worlds. We break down these roles very clearly in our book Brave Love, Great Sex. It's out next week, make sure to grab your copy today! Check out this episode's sponsor (and help the pod!): Uberlube.com -- Laurie's favorite personal lubricant for the last 25 years! Check it out, it's great! Use 'BraveLove' at checkout to let them know we sent you (and get a discount)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! In today's episode, we are discussing boundaries. The term boundaries can be found everywhere now on social media and today we are breaking down what healthy boundaries are and are not. There is a lot of misinformation on boundaries and we are here to set the record straight! Join George and Laurie as they discuss what healthy boundaries in a relationship sound like, how to say no with care and how these guardrails protect and support your relationship. You'll also learn more about rigidity and defensiveness disguised as boundaries and how to work yourself out of this dynamic. What do boundaries mean to you and how do they show up in your relationship? Remember to pre-order a copy of our book now! Brave Love, Great Sex available on September 15th.  Check out this episode's sponsor (and help the 'pod!): uberlube.com - Laurie's long-time favorite personal lubricant. Use the code 'bravelove' at checkout to receive a discount! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! In today's episode we are talking about how we can achieve better communication even if we have very different communication styles. Laurie and George discuss the idea of relationship continuity. Partners remember something that is important to the other and bring it up or initiate connection. Listen in as they discuss some of the differences between men and women's brains and positive ways to stretch beyond me and care for "us." They offer an expert roleplay to break down to listeners how to get back on track to attunement when continuity is disrupted. A great reminder, it's not just you or me, it's also "we." Need more support in your relationship? Make sure to sign up for our virtual couples retreat in November and pre-order a copy of our book Brave Love, Great Sex today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices