Flourishing Sexually after Orthodox Religious Upbringings

Through the process of working with the thousands of individuals and couples who have come to me for help with their sexuality, it has become clear to me that many of the people that reach out have a background from conservative religious backgrounds that affected their sexual development in rigid, misinformed and shaming ways. These people are dealing with:

1. intense, immense and internalized sexual shame

2. sex-negative educational foundations

3. inappropriate meaning ruts

4. inappropriate self or partner blame

5. and developmental stunting in their ability to enjoy the potential, joy and health that sex-positive relational sexuality has to offer

As a result they are often sad, depressed and hopeless about their sex life and either have high amount of marital conflict or avoidance on the topic.

Further Influential Facts:

1. 35% of Americans no longer affiliate with a religion.

2. Even those who do affiliate, hold more progressive and flexible doctrinal views than in the past. Meaning they are open to reinterpretations of their values and doctrinal beliefs.

3. Most who come from religious backgrounds think sex should wait until marriage… and yet most have not lived up to that religiously imposed standard…

To continue reading please visit Symmetry Solutions.

Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS can be reached at natashaparker.org and runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex Info Podcasts, is the current past president of the Mormon Mental Health Association and runs a sex education program, Sex Talk with Natasha. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS/Mormon clientele.