The autumn equinox symbolically reflects a time of introspection, gratitude, and balance. The word equinox comes from Latin, meaning aequus (equal) and nox (night). This day of the year marks the beginning of autumn and consists of equal hours of daylight and darkness. 

Throughout history, people and communities have connected with the rhythms of the Earth, the moon, and seasons to mark new beginnings and deepen self-reflection. If you are on a sexual or personal healing journey, this is a great time of year to tap into this symbolism and connect with your inner wisdom and introspection.

Sensate focus was developed in the 1960s by Masters and Johnson, two pioneers in the study and research of human sexuality. Sensate focus was developed to help couples reduce spectatoring when having sex, which is the experience of getting in your head and focusing on performance versus pleasure and presence during sex. Examples of spectatoring could include thinking about your body or your sexual performance, worrying about how your partner is viewing you or about their sexual satisfaction, or feeling disconnected from your body and your physical sensations. 

Sex therapy is a form of psychotherapy that specializes in addressing sexual concerns such as pain during sex, erectile disorder, low desire, or difficulty orgasming. Sex therapy can also help individuals and couples increase sexual and relationship satisfaction. 

There are so many ways that we can practice self-care. Attending medical appointments typically isn’t something that we consider as self-care, but it can be an important aspect of caring for ourselves and our bodies.

If you have experienced trauma or had negative healthcare experiences, the idea of attending a medical appointment, especially for things such as pap smears, breast exams, or urology appointments, can be overwhelming.

A positive therapeutic alliance has been linked to having a successful experience in therapy. It is important to feel safe, supported, and empowered throughout the therapy process. Each client comes into therapy with unique experiences, strengths, and concerns just like each therapist has their own unique perspective, training and education, and approach.