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Do you worry that the intimate repercussions of past sexual abuse are harming your present relationship? Or, are you single and concerned about how sex problems caused by past sexual abuse might impact a future relationship? Neil Sattin, host of the Relationship Alive! podcast and Wendy take an engaging look at these concerns and more in this friendly discussion entitled, “Deeper Intimacy Through Sexual Healing.” It’s much easier to move forward in a relationship when you have the background information and recovery tools you need. Wendy reveals how the negatives about being sexually abused don’t have to be the last word on sex — it’s possible and rewarding to reclaim your sexuality.

Topics covered include:

1. What is sexual abuse?
2. Can early exposure to porn be a type of sexual abuse? How?
3. What are the sexual problems caused by sexual abuse?
4. What is involved in healing sexual concerns?
5. How does emotional intimacy in a relationship create safety for a survivor?
6. How can you help a partner who has been sexually abused?
7. How can couples work as a team in sexual healing?
8. What are the key exercises that can help survivors and their intimate partners to heal?
9. What are the new skills survivors and intimate partners need to learn?
10. What is a “vacation from sex” and what are “relearning touch exercises”?
11. How does healing from past sexual harm create deeper intimacy?
12. What about pornography? How can it harm deeper intimacy, too?

Relationship Alive! Podcast, Episode #9, 10-20-2015. 

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How can counselors and therapists help survivors to heal sexual problems? Dr. Megan Speciale, the host of The Thoughtful Counselor podcast, sits down with Wendy to discuss sexual healing in the era of the #MeToo movement. Megan, an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at Palo Alto University has worked as a professional counselor and advocate in a variety of community settings, focusing primarily on sexual health and wellness.

 In this episode of her podcast, Megan and Wendy focus the conversation on what counselors need to know who are helping survivors of sexual heal from the intimate repercussions of their past abuse. Wendy shares many ideas, effective strategies, and innovative interventions for intimate healing now that society has entered the #MeToo era.

Megan and Wendy discuss how to support survivors’ sexual wellness after abuse, including specific strategies that you can use with your clients and loved ones to support their process of healing. The dive deep into talking about  the affect of sexual abuse on sexuality, the healing process, resources for recovery, readiness for healing, and therapist do’s and don’ts.

Topics covered include:

1. How awareness of sex and sexual abuse has changed in the last few decades
2. How to approach sexual issues with clients without triggering trauma-related reactions
3. How to help normalize a survivor’s feelings and reactions
4. How therapists can address unconscious power dynamics and encourage the survivor to be in control of their own therapy
5. How a survivor’s anger can be reframed and channeled to initiate and energize healing
6. How therapists can help survivors reclaim their power and define sexuality for themselves
7. How new insights about one’s sexuality can lead to profound positive change and healing
8. How the healing process is about reconditioning, and that takes time
9. How relearning touch exercises are essential to full healing
10. How to know when a client is ready to do active healing work on touch and sex
11. How to be sensitive to flashbacks and triggers, and shift out of relearning touch when needed
12. How to encourage and support, without pushing or controlling
13. Why sexual healing is a slow process, and can’t be rushed
14. How counselors can build their own confidence and competence in doing this work
15. How to tailor the strategies and interventions to meet the individual needs of clients
16. How to create safety in session by honoring boundaries
17. How to find support in the local and national therapeutic community for doing this work

Sexual Healing After #MeToo – Conversations on What Counselors Need to Know, Megan Speciale with Wendy Maltz and Jimanekia Eborn, The Thoughtful Counselor, podcast Episode 97, 9-12-2018.

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In the last 30 minutes of this podcast episode, Megan has an illuminating conversation with Jimanekia Eborn, a sexual health advocate and trauma expert on how unresolved shame from sexual abuse can hamper a person’s ability to connect with others and enjoy life.

Luis Congdon and Kamala Chambers are gifted relationship coaches and hosts of the Thriving Launch/Lasting Love Connection Podcast. They believe the impact of sexual abuse is the most important topic that couples are not talking about enough. Shame and secrecy get in the way. In this interview, they ask Wendy to help them understand the relationship issues, sexual healing techniques, and basic principles involved in sexual recovery. Special attention is paid to understanding the perspectives of female survivors who are in relationships with male partners. Listen in to find out how it’s possible for anyone to overcome negative repercussions with patience, smarts, teamwork, and new touch experiences – and why Wendy’s favorite saying is, “Love is stronger than abuse”

Topics covered include:

How to get started in sexual healing

Overcoming shame and secrecy

How partners can make it safe for a survivor to open up

Men’s understandable, yet sometimes counterproductive, reactions to abuse

How intimate partners can be most helpful in healing

Techniques for dealing with upsetting reactions to touch and abuse memories

The importance of a partner being present, positive and encouraging

How to approach and initiate touch experiences

What male survivors experience and need in sexual healing

Sexual Trauma and Relationships after Abuse, Luis Congdon with Wendy Maltz, Thriving Launch Podcast/Lasting Love Connection, 2-15-2017.

Listen below and find out more about this podcast interview, here