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For many people, the words “sexual health” bring back memories of awkward school lessons focused on pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
But during Sexual Health Awareness Month this September, registered psychotherapist and certified sex therapist Taylor McConnachie says it may be time to broaden that conversation.
McConnachie says sexual wellness can be viewed as another part of overall well-being, alongside physical, mental and emotional health.
She says shame and misconceptions can make it difficult for people to understand their bodies or comfortably discuss their needs and relationships.
McConnachie says some of her clients in their 70s and 80s are learning the correct terms for their anatomy and how their bodies work for the first time.
Her practice supports people dealing with concerns ranging from communication and sexual trauma to body image, identity and shame. McConnachie also trains therapists, doctors and other professionals on what it means to be “sex positive.”
McConnachie says Sexual Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity to challenge old misconceptions, reduce shame and make conversations about sexual wellness feel more normal.
Written by Jeremy Hall
