There is too much misinformation and stigma around sex, and often times, this gets in the way of appreciating our sexual identities. Even as therapists, it can be challenging and uncomfortable to talk about sex. Like our other identities, it is important that we take space to understand our sexual selves and how it relates to our overall wellbeing; it is important that we hold the space for clients to do this, as well. We are here to hold space and open up the discussion.

This roundtable is targeted towards women’s sexual health; we want to have an open dialogue around stigmas, questions, narratives, and knowledge related to sex. Our goal is to create a sense of validation and understanding around experiences that are often pathologized, quieted, or “off-limits.”

We want to explore any questions, thoughts, experiences, roadblocks, and narratives you have internalized related to sex and your identity; as well as issues that have come up in your therapy sessions regarding sexuality. Send as many as you’d like! Submit here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6SKBPVC

We will start off the roundtable by going through these submissions, creating an open space for others to share, support, learn, and grow from one another. This is an affirmative and judgment-free space!

Everyone deserves to be at peace with their sexual self. Let’s start the conversation!

About the Co-hosts

Teresa D’Astice, MFT

I’m a graduate from Northwestern’s Marriage and Family Therapy master’s program. Before graduate school, I studied psychology, environmental studies, and economics at Lake Forest College. Throughout my developmental years, I was a student in Chicago Public Schools.

I’m a practicing individual, couples, and family therapist at Chicago Center for Relationship Counseling located in Wicker Park. I work with clients from an array of cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, and relationship configurations; I navigate my personal and clinical worlds from an anti-racist, affirmative, and sex-positive lens.

How this applies to our roundtable discussion: we have to create a safe space to explore sex in a healthy and safe way. Our systems maintain tunnel vision around sexuality and are bombarded with messages of heteronormativity and toxic masculinity. On a personal and a clinical level, I find it imperative to recognize and deconstruct stigmas and narratives that marginalize people.

I like to work collaboratively with clients to identify what they truly value, need, and want in therapy, as well as in their relationships and for themselves. Particular interests include working with teenagers, adult siblings, premarital couples, and non-monogamous couples. Other particular interests: concerts, dogs, tattoos, and nature.

Emily Gabelman, LMFT, LCSW

My journey to becoming a therapist began as an undergraduate studying Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Psychology at The Ohio State University. After taking time off to live abroad, I attended the Master of Science in Social Work program at the University of Louisville, earning a certificate in Couple and Family Therapy. I now hold licensure as an LCSW in Kentucky, and an LMFT in Illinois. I practice couples, individual, and group therapy at the Chicago Center for Relationship Counseling. I work with clients from a variety of ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, and belief systems.

Whether I am working with individuals or couples, I focus a great deal on relationships. Humans are built for connection, making relationships such an integral piece of our lives. Therefore, when something is going wrong in our relationships, we may feel confusion, sadness, disappointment, uncertainty, or even fear. Furthermore, sexuality is a major piece of relationships; whether that be a relationship with oneself or a relationship with one’s partner(s).

Throughout my time as a therapist, sexuality, particularly women’s sexuality, has become an interest and passion. Due to socialization, inadequate sex ed, toxic masculinity, and various other factors, women are left with incorrect information and a lack of empowerment and prioritization surrounding their sexuality. My goal with this roundtable discussion is to create an open dialogue around women’s sexuality in order to address some of these issues and, in time, create a cultural shift.