Sexual health as a missing pillar of wellbeing with Catriona Boffard

Catriona Boffard is a clinical sexologist, psychotherapist, and sexuality researcher who hosts the podcast Asking for a Friend. She's completing her doctorate in psychotherapy and works with people facing challenges in their sexual experiences, particularly women dealing with sexual pain. I reached out to her because sexuality is such an important part of being alive, and as a therapist, I see it as a significant aspect of someone's life force. It tells us so much about who we are and what we desire. Catriona explains that sexual health is just another pillar of our wellbeing, yet it's often excluded from healthcare conversations. Clinicians don't feel comfortable talking about sex because of their own shame, so clients don't think they can bring it up. She works with people experiencing difficulties like vaginismus and anorgasmia, and the number one intervention is giving people permission. Permission to not want something, permission to want something, permission to realize there's nothing wrong with them. The factors contributing to sexual difficulties are multifactorial: strict religious or cultural messages, trauma, negative sexual experiences, relationship dynamics, parenting stress, medications, neurodiversity, and education. South Africa has a risk and safety-focused sex education curriculum rather than pleasure and consent-focused, which leaves huge gaps. We talk about how sex is the most vulnerable space we can step into with another person. Good sex isn't about how many orgasms you have or how often you do it. Research on magnificent sex shows people talk about being present, transcendence, and expert communication. Catriona introduces the four C's of sex: connection, creativity, curiosity, and compassion. We discuss how porn is acting, how Gen Z has more terms and fluidity but still struggles with shame, and how heterosexual women find sex far more satisfying in midlife when they stop caring what their bodies look like. The cultural and social scripts we inherit get in the way of our bodies' natural wisdom about pleasure and connection. Follow Catriona on: Website: https://catrionaboffard.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catrionaboffard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexologywithcatriona/?hl=en Podcast : https://catrionaboffard.com/490-2/ Follow Carly on: Website: https://onthecouchwithcarly.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBi56xQookfRGL3zvWVzCg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthecouchwithcarly/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthecouchwithcarly/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onthecouchwithcarly Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/on-the-couch-with-carly/id1497585376 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7A2FMnISQ2fz9D5p0Xuw