27. Rediscovering Desire, Boosting Connection & Getting the Sex Life You Deserve with Dr. Catalina

In this week's episode, we're getting real about SEX! So if you have little ears around, you may want to pop in some headphones or listen to this one later.

Our guest is Dr. Catalina Lawsin. She's a clinical psychologist, researcher and professor who has a huge following on Tik Tok & Instagram where she gets real about sex & intimacy.

 In this chat we discuss a LOT of topics including:
- connection
- brutal honesty & how it leads to intimacy
- the pandemic & relationships
- reclaiming sexual desire & getting the sex life you deserve
- harnessing connecting in an epidemic of loneliness
- self-pleasure
- the truth behind libido
- getting curious & creating safety
- the hierarchy of needs, wants & desires
- how to build trust in relationships & have better conversations around sex
- how to open up when talking about your needs & desires without making demands
- making pleasure an exploration
- using all your senses during sex to communicate
- processing trauma & coping with pain during sex
- why pleasure is our birthright

Over the last two decades, Dr. Catalina Lawsin has been a clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor in the fields of psycho-oncology addressing cancer's impact on sexual wellbeing and health disparities amongst POC and immigrants.  Her research has explored quality of life amongst individuals and their partners impacted by cancer to improve relationships and sexual wellbeing.  Through this experience she has learned that intimate connection is essential for and a key marker of our overall wellness. Dr. Catalina specializes in helping clients address sexual and relationship concerns amidst major life transitions (e.g. menopause, divorce, chronic illness) and complex traumas.  Dr. Catalina provides individual and couples therapy from a relational perspective using evidence-based strategies stemming from mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral and attachment research in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and online for clients living in CA, NY and IL.  Dr. Catalina also offers group online programs addressing sexual desire.  For additional support and resources to connect go to www.DrCatalina.org.

Follow Dr. Catalina on Instagram @drcatalina_
She's also on Tik Tok @drcatalina
Visit her YouTube page

Connect with Leslie on Instagram @lesliedraffin & @thelightwithinpodcast

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