
How Shame Impacts Intimacy with Aleksandra Trkulja
From In This Body by Ailey Jolie
May 21, 2026 · 56 min · Season 3 · Episode 66
About this episode
Ailey Jolie and sex therapist Aleksandra Trkulja discuss how shame and body image affect intimacy and pleasure.
What if pleasure is not about learning new techniques, but learning how to feel safe in your body? In this episode, Ailey sits down with sex therapist and sexologist Aleksandra Trkulja to explore the connection between body image, nervous system regulation, and intimacy. Together, they unpack why shame, self criticism, and disconnection from the body can create real barriers to pleasure, arousal, and desire. Aleks shares insights from her work in eating disorder recovery and explains how cont...
People in this episode
Host: Ailey Jolie
Guest: Aleksandra Trkulja
Topics covered
- shame
- intimacy
- body image
- nervous system regulation
- pleasure
- self-criticism
Keywords
- shame
- intimacy
- body image
- nervous system
- pleasure
- arousal
- desire
- eating disorder recovery
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- Staying In Your Body Through Chronic Illness with Dr. Ann Saffi Biasetti · May 14, 2026 · 1h 5m
- A Map of Somatic Therapy Approaches with Ailey Jolie · May 7, 2026 · 52 min
- Navigating the Psychedelic Landscape with Valeria McCarroll · April 30, 2026 · 57 min
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