154: Pleasure, Psychedelics for Queer BIPOC + Connecting to Ancestral Guides with Courtney Watson

In this episode with Courtney Watson, we talk about how psychedelics can be a powerful tool for personal exploration in identity, pleasure, + resilience. She shares about her work with Queer BiPOC , as well as, practices + rituals to access inspiration from ancestral wisdom. In this episode, you’ll hear: Building resilience strategies amidst complex trauma Navigating the repercussions of the pandemic and reclaiming a connection to pleasure Courtney's impactful work with Queer BiPOC  How to create a sex-positive environment and educate children about pleasure The significance of intersectionality in therapy, addressing unique challenges in sexual expression and healing Empowering individuals to explore their sexual identities for greater self-acceptance Broadening understanding about bisexuality and queerness beyond societal norms The role of psychedelic therapy, particularly ketamine-assisted therapy, in sex therapy, with a focus on Queer + BIPOC Unpacking the concept of energetic sex and embracing our fullest sexual selves through pleasure Practices for connecting with ancestral guides and the wisdom they offer Tapping into ancestral guidance to navigate sexuality and learn from familial patterns for healing and releasing shame. THE SKINNY ON OUR SEXY GUESTS The dynamic founder of Doorway Therapeutic Services, Courtney, is not just a highly qualified therapist but a passionate advocate for those she serves. Her love for her work is deeply intertwined with her dedication to serving marginalized communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Queer Folx, trans/gnc/non-binary/2 spirit Folx, those exploring non-traditional relationships, and sex workers. Courtney’s passion lies in her service to her community and has led her to transform her solo practice into a group practice of predominantly Queer, BIPOC and TGNC providers offering their therapeutic expertise as a beacon of understanding and guidance to the community. Her goal is not just to help but to champion the healing journey of her clients and the professional development of her employees. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, she utilizes her rich educational background to work in tandem with breadth of knowledge that her lived experience provides. Academically speaking, she has a B.S. in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana (an HBCU), an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from UNLV, and an M.Ed. in Human Sexuality from Widener University and might finally be finishing her PhD studies in Human Sexuality this fall! Additionally she has trained with MAPS to provide MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy, CIIS to provide Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Polaris Insight Center to provide Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. As these medicines are rescheduled by the FDA and available to the public, Doorways will offer psychedelic therapy in addition to the current Ketamine offering now.