008: Why sex is important in a marriage with Dr. Laurie Watson

Welcome to Episode 8 of The Communicate & Connect Podcast! I'm your host, Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky, a dedicated military marriage counselor, and today we have an incredibly insightful episode lined up for you. We delve into the profound importance of sex in marriage with our esteemed guest, Dr. Laurie Watson, a certified sex therapist and host of the popular podcast, Foreplay Radio Sex Therapy. In this episode, we'll uncover the unique challenges that military couples face, especially during deployments, where maintaining emotional and sexual intimacy becomes a complex task. Dr. Watson brings her expertise to the table, highlighting the critical role of effective communication and vulnerability in nurturing a healthy, connected relationship. Together, we'll explore the common issues couples encounter—such as mismatched sex drives, balancing autonomy with closeness, and managing emotional and physical needs. Dr. Watson will share her wisdom on cultivating eroticism and understanding the intricacies of female orgasm. She underscores the importance of imaginative and memory-based arousal for women, and explains how partners can bridge the gap in their sexual experiences through open, non-blaming conversations. We'll also delve into the impact of PTSD on intimacy, especially in military personnel, and discuss strategies to maintain connection, even from a distance. Furthermore, Dr. Watson offers practical advice on incorporating tools like vibrators to enhance sexual experiences, emphasizing their role in busy couples' lives while maintaining the irreplaceable value of emotional connection and physical touch. Stay tuned as we discuss actionable tips for maintaining desire and intimacy during long separations, leveraging expressive and even flirty communication to keep the spark alive. Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most.  You can sign up for Elizabeth's FREE 10-week relationship email course here.  Read the show notes for this episode here.    Free Relationship Pattern Assessment Are you having the same conversation over and over? Many couples assume they have a communication problem when they're actually stuck in a relationship pattern that keeps creating the same conflict. Take the free Relationship Pattern Assessment to identify the pattern that may be keeping you disconnected and learn what to focus on next. 👉 https://pages.communicateandconnect.com/relationship-quiz