Sarah speaks with co-founder of the Equitable Care Certification, Soleil Merroir and poet-activist, Jenna Torres about the first ever curriculum for therapists created by sex workers. The Equitable Care Certification (ECC) is created by sex workers, sex working therapists, and allies; to help do just that - build a more equitable care model for sex workers seeking mental health care. In this episode, we discuss the barriers and experiences sex workers often have when pursuing mental health care and what is being done to address the major gaps. Therapists, anyone looking to learn more about sex work, and anyone breathing - this episode is for you. To support, donate, learn more or to become the best therapist ever: visit https://www.equitablecarecert.com/https://www.zeppwellness.com/. Instagram: @equitablecarecertification To find our amazing guests: Jenna, on instagram @monathairgoals; Soleil, on instagram @cyborgdreamz You can find me: @psychandthecitybk on instagram; TikTok: @psychandthecitybk The Equitable Care Certification (ECC) is created by sex workers, sex work-affirming therapists and sex working therapists; it is composed of the Equitable Care Coalition & the Curriculum Committee. The Equitable Care Coalition broadly supports the creation of the certification through outreach, marketing & consulting. The Curriculum Committee —led entirely by QTPOC, sex working therapists— creates all course content. ECC is overseen by two sex working therapists, Raquel Savage & Angie Gunn LCSW, CST, CSTS.

Sarah speaks with Marysa Carter, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT, PT who specializes in pelvic health and sex education. Let me answer your question before you finish. Yes, if you have a pelvis, YOU have a pelvic floor. Absolutely flooding with knowledge, Arkansas-based Marysa gives me the basics - like, what even is a pelvic floor? - in addition to covering deeper topics - such as myofascial pain, vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, and endometriosis. If you struggle with pain, incontinence, or simply just want to learn to more: give this gorgeous area of your body the attention it craves! Start here. No prior knowledge needed!  Resources: Marysa Carter on Instagram: @pelvichealthwithmarysa @jillkrapfmd; @vaginarehabdoctor; @dr.susieg; and @thevaginawhisperer on Instagram. ⁠Dr. Bri’s vibrant pelvic health⁠ page on YouTube.  Nancy’s Nook for Endometriosis Education and the Pelvic Pain Support Network are support groups on Facebook.  Intimate Rose is a company created by a pelvic floor PT that has a lot of video resources. Marysa have a discount code for them!:  ⁠intimaterose.com/MARYSA1⁠ There’s also a short film called Tightly Wound about vaginismus that Marysa recommends often.  @psychandthecitybk Podcast website: www.psychandthecitybk.com

Sarah speaks with Andrew Heartman, co-founder of the Surrogate Partner Collective and a surrogate partner for over 13 years. Often incorrectly referred to as 'sex surrogates,' Andrew explains the healing powers of surrogate partner therapy and how it's way more than just physical touch. With only about 50 surrogate partners in the United States, Andrew and his team are passionate about expanding and revitalizing surrogate partner therapy (SPT). Resources: Andrew Heartman Surrogate Partner Collective International Professional Surrogates Association Human Awareness Institute. HAI offers workshops in love, intimacy, and sexuality. The Embrace Surrogate Partner Therapy Resource Group: https://www.embracespt.org/ How SPT has changes since it was conceived: https://www.surrogatepartnercollective.org/post/the-evolution-of-surrogate-partner-therapy Ethics and Legality: https://www.surrogatepartnercollective.org/ethics-and-legality SPT Courses for Therapists/Clinicians: https://www.surrogatepartnercollective.org/courses Training for Surrogate Partners: https://www.surrogatepartnercollective.org/training Sarah: [email protected]

Come along as I do a quick recap of object relations theory in preparation for my LCSW exam. This rundown is short, sweet, and filled with rapproachement. I hope these audio summaries of theories sometimes utilized in social work are helping others study and learn. The information about this theory came from the Dawn Apgar Social Work Licensing Clinical Exam, A Comprehensive Study Guide book (3rd edition). No this is not an ad, just the book I'm studying from.

Studying for the LCSW exam continues. For the next few weeks, I will be doing short, solo episodes, covering a theory or framework used in social work and listed in the Dawn Apgar Social Work Licensing Clinical Exam Study Guide, Edition Three. Come along as we study all the theories so I can pass my exam. Today, Freud’s psychosexual stages of development.

I’m beginning to study for my LCSW exam! For the next few weeks, I will be doing short, solo episodes, covering a theory or framework used in social work and listed in the Dawn Apgar Social Work Licensing Clinical Exam Study Guide, Edition Three. Come along as we study all the theories so I can pass my exam.

Today is part two of the dive into Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Dissociative Trauma Disorders. Anne and Lexi, co-founders of Beauty After Bruises, are back! This week, we are primarily focusing on dissociative trauma disorders. We debunk myths about DID and dissociation - like, how it's rare (it's not) and discuss the BASK model of dissociation. And finally, Dun dun duuun! the last third of the episode is dedicated to talking coping, grounding, self-care, and management strategies - THEY DO EXIST. This episode is suited for clinicians, survivors, and anyone looking to learn more.   Some of the topics we discuss may be activating to some folks.  CW: ritual abuse   Resources:   Beauty After Bruises: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/   Dispelling DID Myths and Misconceptions: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/didmyths  International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation: https://www.isst-d.org/  DES II: The Dissociative Experiences Scale measures a wide variety of types of dissociation, including both problematic dissociative experiences, and normal dissociative experiences (e.g., day-dreaming). Try it yourself: http://traumadissociation.com/des  Find Sarah: @Psychandthecitybk, Twitter: @psychndthecity; www.psychandthecitybk.com

This episode serves as an initial dive into Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Dissociative Disorders. Sarah speaks with Anne and Lexi, co-founders of Beauty After Bruises, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing survivors of childhood trauma with both access and funding to receive therapy and/or inpatient care - while creating professional and public awareness for Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. In the first episode of a two-part series, we discuss the basics of CPTSD and dissociative disorders - what they are and what they're not - and how survivors are the most steady and creative people we know. Part two (coming next week) will focus on additional psycho education on the 'smaller' symptoms in addition to offering a healthy supply of coping, healing, and relational supports.   Resources: Beauty After Bruises: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/ Dispelling DID Myths and Misconceptions: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/didmyths International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation: https://www.isst-d.org/

Sarah interviews Jim Duffy, harm reduction advocate and founder of Smoke Works - an organization that provides injection alternatives and safe smoking supplies to syringe service providers and groups nationwide. Harm reduction programs often have difficulty obtaining and distributing pipes due to budgetary and legal hurdles. Smoke Works aims to fix that. Dedicated to drug user health equity and HIV and overdose prevention, Jim Duffy leads with lived experience and Smoke Works shares profits with underfunded groups performing direct-service work. In this episode we discuss crack, meth, and stimulant use, damaging paraphernalia laws, and why giving people access to pipes is a public health initiative. Jim and Sarah explicitly discuss drug use, stigma, and tips on what to do if you’ve taken too much or how to support someone who has.  Resources: patreon.com/SmokeWorks Instagram: @Smokeworksboston Smokeworkspipes.com Sarah // Instagram: @psychandthecitybk Psych and the City Podcast: www.psychandthecitybk.com Harm reduction resources mentioned in the episode:  Good Works: North Alabama Harm Reduction Rad! Health Resources Punks With Lunch

Horny after a partner dies? NORMAL.  Body and emotional numbness? NORMAL.  Completely lost or somewhere in between? NORMAL.  THE advocate for ageless sexuality Joan Price, shares insights from her book, Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved. After losing her partner of seven years, being the sex educator and senior sexpert she is, Joan went looking for resources and help. She found resources about sex. She found resources about grief. But found none at the intersection of what to do about grief and sex, particularly after losing a partner. There, Joan experienced the culture of silence surrounding sex and grief. With her book and teachings, Joan's trying to shift the myths and shame embedded in the current way we think about sex and grief, specifically after the death of a partner. Joan tells me that whatever you're feeling, or wanting, or not wanting, it's probably normal.  Learn more about Joan: www.joanprice.com Listen to all the episodes at: www.psychandthecitybk.com