FAITH & SEXUALITY
Addressing faith & sexuality at ICC
A large portion of our clients identify as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) or as members of other Christian faiths. Having worked with hundreds of clients who identify this way, Kristin has gained a deep understanding and a sort of "insider's view" of how multilayered and complex the intersection of religion and sexuality can be.
Clients, whether religious or agnostic, male or female, young or mature, desire to cultivate a deeper sexual intimacy and also run into unexpected barriers. Some of these barriers include sexual misinformation, erotic unawareness, avoidance of one's own body, unawareness of one's own capacity for sexual pleasure, difficulty with being sexually assertive, trouble negotiating sexual desires, misconceptions about what is sexually "normal," as well as varying degrees of sexual shame. It is because of these and many other barriers that our clients find that attending counseling at ICC to be freeing and a useful first step toward feeling much more empowered and confident in their sexual lives.
In these sessions, Kristin incorporates the client's sexual values as they work together to integrate what it means to be sexual within their values. Kristin approaches this is by getting to know her client's values around sexuality and doing her best to ensure that they have access to the latest, most useful information about sexuality; including, sexual desire, sexual functioning, cultural influences and healthy relationship skills.
For the conservative and/or religious client, gaining access to accurate and thorough sexuality information and skills for collaborative negotiation can prove essential in the cultivation of a healthy sexual relationship. Kristin does not believe it is her place to tell someone what they should or should not do in their sexual lives, but it is her honor to do her best to ensure they have access to necessary information for her clients to then decide what feels best for them moving forward.