Like many client populations, service members can struggle with sexuality and intimacy secondary to physical, emotional, and/or mental injury/illness. Trauma such as amputation, spinal cord injury, and PTSD (to name a few) can lead to trouble with self-esteem, genitourinary dysfunction, pain, loss of desire, testosterone deficiency, body image challenges, and more.

We've all seen them. The sex scenes in movies that too often portray those initial moments afterwards to be euphoric and filled with mutual pleasure and happiness. But, we know that just isn't always reality! It can actually be an awkward or uncomfortable time for couples. Add pain, difficulty with communication, or a physical limitation to the mix and it can really become a difficult time to figure out what to say. I often get asked by client's, "how do I ask for what I want?" and "what if I want my partner to do something different?" or often what is more likely is that I'll find out that sex just ends "bad" with one or all partners frustrated or feeling like there's a lack of connection.

Early on in my clinical practice I developed what I like to call, The 3 A's.

I am thrilled to share my latest "Teach Me Sex" interview with Anita Martin, an experienced COTA, Certified Clinical Sexologist, and founder of Sex Assist. Goodness was it educational!... and steamy! With 15 years of experience as a COTA, Anita has found her passion and niche in the occupation of sex and intimacy. She now owns and operates her business, Sex Assist, through which she helps both individuals and couples find a better outlook through sex and improve their communication. How amazing is that!? She is also a bartender and foodie at heart, which I think makes her even more relatable!

The University of Pittsburgh COTAD (Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity) Chapter conducted a training on "Culturally Inclusive ADLs" that, with their permission, I had to pass along to my crew! Their personal mission is to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the Pittsburgh OT community and empower students to be more comprehensive and effective clinicians. How awesome is that!?

Documentation and billing are often the perceived showstoppers for doing sex and intimacy interventions. Let me tell you, I get a ton of questions about this, so you are not alone if you’re wondering,

“How the heck do I bill for, ‘Ronnie will mount Sammie during sex with mod I”?

So here is a quick and dirty blog post about documentation and billing to match the actual simplicity of this task.

I often get asked by OTs how I create a private space to bring up the topic of sex. But, let’s be honest. It’s just not realistic. We’d be waiting for a long time before the opportunity of a private moment presented itself, especially in an acute care setting. Between the client's family and friends, nurses, doctors, and hospital staff you can almost guarantee there’s always someone in the room. Or think about a busy pediatric outpatient clinic with all of the families and children in the gym. Think there's always going to be privacy to ask about sexual development and concerns and questions parents may have?

Breaking New Ground: How to Start Your Own Sex & Intimacy Clinic!

I am reflecting on the political landscape these past few weeks and on AOTA's statement about the insurrection & white supremacy and especially the comments in response to that statement that said AOTA and OT should not be political and here are some thoughts I'd like to share.

Many times we have lamented and noted that patient educational handouts rarely show variety in race, gender expression, bodies, and sexual orientation and that they tend to be white, cisgender and heteronormative. This becomes even more problematic for sexuality handouts as these occupations involve our bodies, other bodies, and those we love and care most about, as well as, the need to navigate body image and stigma.

But the trailblazer, Jennifer Hutchinson (they/them), had an answer.

During a week when many of us are wondering, “Do I like Valentine’s Day?” “Do I not?” or “What does Valentine’s Day mean to me?" I wanted to check in with some inspo from Audre Lorde, Adrienne Maree Brown, and bell hooks. These individuals are all love and pleasure radical thought leaders giving a road map to a world that prioritizes pleasure, equity, self-actualization, and humanity. While I could never do their work justice in a short post, I wanted to direct you to their powerful words.