LAST BLOG
Check out the articles below for resources from our staff licensed sex, love and relationship therapists and experts.
When the Body Starts Talking
By Moushumi Ghose, LMFT
What is the connection between chronic symptoms, unspoken needs, and the quiet cost of self-silencing in long-term relationships?
In my years of working as a sex and relationship therapist, I have sat with a large number of people navigating chronic symptoms — fatigue with no explanation, pain that moves around and lingers years after an injury, libido that just disappeared, a brain that feels foggy.
These are not small complaints. They are life-altering. And what has struck me, again and again, is how often these symptoms arrive together in people who are also struggling to get some need met.
Beyond the “Sex Addiction” Label: A Healthier Path Forward for Men Struggling with Sexual Behaviors
By Lauren O’Brien, LCSW
If you’re a man who feels stuck in sexual behaviors that don’t align with your values—whether that’s compulsive pornography use, secrecy around sex, or patterns that leave you feeling ashamed—you are not alone. Many men struggle in silence, believing something is fundamentally wrong with them. For years, the dominant explanation offered to men in this position has been the idea of “sex addiction.”
But the truth is more nuanced—and far more hopeful.
Reclaiming Your Sex Life After Trauma
By Jessica Hyatt, LMFT, Sex Therapist and EMDR Practitioner
Trauma is a powerful thing.
One violent experience can have reverberations into all of your future relationships with others, and even your relationship with your own body.
A series of negative experiences that happened decades ago can make it feel impossible to trust anyone.
The good news is that our brains have plasticity, and we can learn to feel safety in our bodies, just like we learned to adapt to danger.
A lot of somatic sex therapy involves building practices to increase safety, “getting the reps in” over time with our nervous system.
Rules vs. Agreements: What’s the Difference?
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
You’ve probably heard that establishing agreements is one of the most important foundations of a relationship, regardless of structure or style. And while this conversation often shows up in nonmonogamous spaces, it’s just as relevant everywhere else.
Here’s the thing, monogamy is the default. In many ways, it’s compulsory. It’s embedded into the fabric of society. The nuclear family as we know it was shaped by systems rooted in agriculture, colonization, patriarchy, and property ownership, where wives were positioned under husbands. That context still echoes in how relationships are structured and understood today.
For those practicing nonmonogamy, there often isn’t a prewritten script to follow. There’s more room, and sometimes more necessity, for co-creation. But even within monogamy, especially when approached with intention, agreements matter.
Why Modern Intimacy Feels So Confusing Right Now
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
We are adaptable beings. But the question is, are we truly adapting to the world we’ve created, or simply becoming overwhelmed by it?
Modern life is defined by constant stimulation: endless information, digital immediacy, and a culture built on urgency and consumption. While technology has expanded our opportunities for connection, it has also reshaped how we experience intimacy, desire, and relationships. Many people today find themselves navigating jealousy, distraction, comparison, and an increasingly pervasive sense of loneliness. At a time when a lot of us are surrounded by people, and the possibilities for connection are not only greater but more convenient, people have never felt lonelier and more disconnected. Sure, we may be connected or in contact with others, but what about the depth and quality of the relationships we’re making?
Erotic Anhedonia Amid Political Unrest and Injustice
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
Not feeling especially sexy, turned on, desirable, or interested in intimacy or sex?
You are not alone.
And it makes sense.
Political unrest, violence, and widespread attacks on human rights are creating an atmosphere of unsafety, hypervigilance, mistrust, fear, rage, grief, and deep exhaustion. Our nervous systems are under siege. Many of us are living in persistent dysregulation, moving between hypo and hyperarousal, reactivity, tension, and stress, all while carrying the additional burden of surviving under the relentless pressures of capitalism.
A Missing Piece of Your Sexual Healing Work
Therapy Isn’t Just Talking: A PSA About Somatic Work
I want to talk about something that comes up a lot in therapy—something many clients feel surprisingly resistant to.
Somatic work.
As a sex therapist, it’s important to me that we incorporate somatic work into therapy. And yet, many people still believe therapy is mostly about talking—processing things cognitively, understanding what happened, naming feelings, making sense of it all.
Talking does matter. But talking alone doesn’t always connect what’s happening up here—our thoughts, insights, realizations—to what’s happening in our bodies.
And that disconnect is a big deal.
What People Get Wrong About Initiation
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
One of the most common complaints I hear from the couples and partners I work with revolves around initiation in relationships. Often, the challenge centers on frequency. One partner wants the other to initiate more. The other partner then feels like they are constantly being nagged or pressured to do so.
Still others tell me that what they really want is to feel desired by their partner. Wanted. Lusted after. Meanwhile, their partner feels genuinely confused about how to make that happen. Add in communication breakdowns and poor sex education, and it is no wonder so many people feel stuck. We are simply not taught that initiation should be an invitation.
It’s Not Just About Sex: What People Really Bring to Sex Coaching
People often have interesting reactions when I tell them I’m a sex coach. There’s usually a mix of shock, surprise, intrigue, mild suspicion, or even subtle judgment. “I bet you’ve seen it all,” they’ll say, or they’ll ask about the “weirdest” thing I’ve encountered.
What these reactions reveal is how many assumptions and misconceptions still exist about sex coaching. If you’re curious to learn more, our coaches and therapists at LAST speak directly to this. What may surprise or perhaps even relieve you is that many of the most complex, unresolved, and painful issues people bring into sessions often trace back to just a few core roots: shame, communication, and narrow definitions of sex and intimacy.
A Pleasure Map for 2026
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
Moving into a New Year offers opportunities for renewal, expansion, redirection, and new experiences. It’s a natural moment to look back with gratitude on the highlights of the year, the people you met, the connections you formed, and the moments that shaped your growth.
The New Landscape of Infidelity in the Age of AI
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
Believe it or not, the definition of infidelity is no longer limited to the physical realm, especially in this digital age. AI and technology have not only introduced new variables in how we understand cheating and betrayal, but they have also become tools that some people use to follow their seeds of suspicion. Today, depending on who you ask, infidelity can be physical, emotional, financial, or digital.
Sex and Intimacy Trends in 2025
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
We’re closing in on a new year, making it the perfect moment to reflect on the sex and intimacy trends that shaped 2025. From expansive new education and increased visibility for sex coaches and therapists, to more open conversations about desire, connection, and relational well-being, people are finding new ways to connect. You may be surprised to see just how many are kicking shame to the curb, embracing alternative relationship structures, and, yes, finding ways to slow down.
Conflict as One of the Deepest Forms of Intimacy… With Yourself
Conflict is often demonized in relationships. Our Western culture teaches us how to set boundaries, but not how to repair. Communication, perhaps the most foundational and also most difficult skill to cultivate, is where we so often stumble. We aren’t taught emotional regulation, conflict resolution, or self-soothing techniques.
Many people fear conflict because they see it as a sign that something is wrong with them, their desires, or the relationship itself. But conflict can be one of the deepest forms of intimacy, not only between partners but also within yourself. Healing invites us to face unresolved pain and silent suffering. It stretches us into deeper self-awareness and expands our capacity for both solo and shared love.
Detach, with Love
Our society teaches us that attachment and commitment are something that is best when fused, that romance equals the best kind of love and that the union formed is the most valid form of love.
What is Holistic Sexuality?
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
Contrary to popular belief, sexual wellness isn’t defined by how much sex we’re having, or how high our desire is for sex. Holistic sexuality and sexual wellness also encompass our beliefs, mindset, and feelings around sex and our relationship with pleasure.
Societal and religious conditioning, pressure, expectations, performance anxiety, and shame can all hijack our pleasure- it’s almost like we carry invisible knapsacks into the bedroom, and unfortunately for many people, trauma, grief, disconnection from our bodies, or general lack of awareness and education around pleasure and intimacy can cause emotional and relational distress, dissatisfaction, despair, and grief.
Acceptance, Willingness, and Communication: Ways to Navigate a Mixed Orientation Relationship
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
A mixed orientation relationship is one in which partners or spouses do not share the same sexual orientation. One partner(s) may be gay, bisexual, lesbian, or asexual while the other identifies as heterosexual, for example. While a mixed orientation relationship can present certain challenges, with acceptance, willingness, and communication, these relationships can thrive. Partners can find meaningful ways to honor their relationship while celebrating their sexuality. This article will focus particularly on coming out as bisexual to a partner, though the ideas could be applied more generally to a mixed orientation relationship regardless of sexual orientation.
The Difference Between Desire, Arousal, and Attraction
By Jamie Azar, Sex, Relationship, and Intimacy Coach
Society has a tendency to conflate love, romanticism, desire, arousal, and attraction, which can put a lot of strain, pressure, and expectation on a person, people, or relationship, especially if we’re expecting all of this from one person. Mononormativity, the assumption that monogamy is the default, natural, or superior way to structure relationships, and allonormativity, the assumption that experiencing sexual and/or romantic attraction is universal and expected, create implicit frameworks, expectations, and defaults that may not align with how one currently relates to themselves, others, or within their relationships.
Navigating Insecurities in Multi-Partner Love
Insecurity–those age-old illusions of limitation, inadequacy, or self-doubt tend to rise when we feel vulnerable, tender, uncertain, or afraid. Just writing about it brings an ache to my stomach, because we’ve all been there.
And yet, feeding insecurity is one of the most painful ways we abandon ourselves. Limiting feelings can harden into limiting beliefs, and those beliefs shape our behaviors, our relationships, and the way we move in the world.
Kink: Using What You Already Have for Erotic Play
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of kink? Do you think of a closet full of leather, whips, chains, and ropes? Well, while this certainly may be the contents of a kinky closet, they don’t have to be.
Emotional Safety in Relationships: What That Means and How to Create It
People want to feel emotionally safe in their relationships, whether that is with their partners, friends, family members, coworkers, bandmates, etc. What safety looks like and feels like is subjective to every individual, depending on their upbringing, childhood history, attachment patterns, relationship histories, and their mental and emotional health. And we know that safety can easily be compromised amidst reactivity, taking things personally, or communication breakdowns that lead to frustration and misunderstanding. From here, once activated, we can resort to either perpetuating or experiencing defensiveness, blaming, criticizing, nitpicking, avoiding or stonewalling, disrespecting boundaries, or shutting down.
Attachment Theory Through a Liberatory Lens
If you know me, you know that I often rage about the nuclear family as the pilar of the patriarchy and colonialism.
And, yet. Most of us working in therapy, coaching, and healing spaces are familiar with attachment theory—a framework so often cited in relational therapy when clients are struggling with intimacy, trust, conflict, or emotional regulation. As a therapist, I do this too.
Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth in the mid-20th century, and offered understanding of how our upbringing shapes our intimate relationship patterns into adulthood.
But here’s the thing:
Traditional attachment theory doesn’t tell the whole story.
Neurospicy and K*nk: A Supportive Space for Neurodivergent Folx
By Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach
Neurodiversity refers to the natural and valuable variation in how human brains process, perceive, and respond to the world. Neurodivergence isn’t a flaw or something to “fix.” It’s a beautiful umbrella of a variety of different categories of neurological differences- from ADHD, to autism, to bipolar, PTSD, and sensory processing differences- all of which empower individuals with unique ways of thinking, creating, relating, and experiencing the world, themselves, and others.
Internal Consent, Boundaries, and Self-Respect
We often think of consent as something that happens between people, where all parties enthusiastically agree to an activity, whether s*xual or not. But consent begins within. When we fail to check in with ourselves, when we override our body’s signals about what feels good, what doesn’t, what is a yes and what is a no, we risk self-betrayal, and can experience trauma, pain, panic, stress, or anxiety.
From Avoidance to Action: How to Overcome Silence Around S*x in Your Relationship
Our s*x lives aren’t separate from all other facets of our life: our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, work life, family life, domestic life, hobbies, beliefs, and values are all interconnected. Like a puzzle, a shift in one piece can change the entire picture. Having an awareness of the ways in which changes in your life can affect your overall desire and interest in s*x can be a great place to start in cultivating agency over the roles pleasure and s*x play in your life.
Fluidity isn’t a trend. It’s human.
By Moushumi Ghose, LMFT
Why I believe in Sexual fluidity. Gender fluidity. Relational fluidity. All of it.
Making S*x Work Seen and Safe
Society, for the most part, is largely ignorant to the systemic challenges and emotional impacts legal barriers and rights to safety have on s*x workers. S*x work is one of the oldest forms of labor, existing across decades, generations, cultures, and societies; it has existed in virtually every society, woven into the fabrics of the personal, social, political, economic and spiritual spheres of different worlds. S*x work has been revered in certain cultures, honored as a ceremonial and sacred act, contrary to the shame and criminalization of our modern legal systems and general ethos of the public.
Find Your Form of Resistance
The ICE invasions in Los Angeles have exposed the outright abuse of power, the
persistence of colonialist tactics of divide and conquer, and the ongoing, shameful
violation of human rights. At the same time, they’ve revealed the strength of collective
resistance against these blatant acts of fascism.
Three questions to ask before entering a sexual relationship with someone
A healthy sex life is a key part of wellbeing for many adults. Whether that involves solo
pleasure, intimacy with a committed partner, or more casual encounters, understanding and
meeting our sexual needs and desires is a natural component of human health and
happiness.
Own Your Pleasure: 5 Ways to Level Up Your Orgasms
As a sexologist and relationship and intimacy coach, I constantly encourage people to expand their definitions of sex, while reminding them that sex exists beyond penetration and orgasm.
Having an orgasm doesn’t necessarily equate to sexual satisfaction, nor does it have to be a requirement for great sex.
How to Talk About What You Want in a Relationship.. Even When It’s Scary
If you’ve ever struggled to express a desire —
whether it’s introducing a kink, wanting to open the relationship, or even just asking for time to take a class or go on a solo trip —
you’re not alone.
Permission to Fantasize: Embracing Your Erotic Mind
People often forget that the brain is our biggest sex organ. In fact, many take it for granted. We focus so much on the physical aspects of sex, which, don’t get me wrong, can be sensational and transcendent, but it can also fall flat if we’re not embodied, or if...
The Dance
How Trauma Can Teach Us to Bargain With Harm—and Let It Go On Too Long
Preoccupation with Desire: Is this Silently Killing Your Sex Life?
Too many people are living life feeling “broken” because they aren’t interested in sex, they don’t
want to have sex, or they feel guilty that they don’t really enjoy the sex they’re having.
When Arousal Feels Like a Performance…
and what to do when your body says “no” in the bedroom but “yes” when you’re alone.
Recently I was asked to respond to a reader question about cheating, masturbation, arousal and erections….
and it reminded me of something that we don’t talk about enough:
How, often, arousal—can feel like a performance.
Where Shame and Silence End, We Begin Again: The Power of Reclamation
Our core beliefs around sex, sexuality, and our “right” to pleasure are often complex, nuanced, and intertwined with our past experiences.
Many of us carry the burdens of shame, guilt, repression, or inner turmoil trapped beneath our truest desires for safety, vulnerability, trust, and authentic connection. Somewhere along the way, our brains and bodies might get hijacked by our defensive emotions: panic, grief, rage, or shame, and we may find it nearly impossible to access affiliative emotions like care, play, lust, or pleasure.
Exploring Creative Monogamy by Jamie Azar
Monogamy is often seen as the default relational structure in society, yet many people don’t
question the expectations or assumptions that come with it. We at once idealize and romanticize
lifelong commitment and sexual fidelity to one person, while also feeling the weight of the
expectation to fulfill all of our partner’s emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, and sexual
needs—an unrealistic burden that often leaves partners feeling dissatisfied.
Does Good Intimacy Always Lead to Great Sex?
by Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach It may surprise you, but many couples who seek sex therapy or coaching already have a solid foundation of emotional intimacy. The issue? They’re not having sex. These couples often long for the passion they once...
Back to Basics, or: Sex is Sex!
I remember reading an article in my 20’s about “rediscovering the handjob,” and frankly, in my opinion, one of the most liberating and freeing aspects of coming into one’s own (pun exceptionally intended) as we age sexually, is rediscovering the inherent sexiness and...
Repair After Rupture
by Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach Shame likes to live in the shadowed corners of our relational and communal ruptures. Whether it’s the embarrassment around our reactions, words, thoughts, or any behavior that erupted from a heightened emotional...
Reclaiming Yourself: How to Know It’s Time to End a Relationship
by Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach Heteronormative society both romanticizes lifelong commitments and everlasting love, while simultaneously demonizing and stigmatizing singlehood, separation, and divorce. However, the intentional and conscious...
Talk Therapy Doesn’t Work?
by Dr. Eric G. Schneider, M.Ed., Ph.D., LMHC B.S. propaganda isn’t just for politics. These days, we’re bombarded with claims that “talk therapy” doesn’t work, swiftly followed by promises of a revolutionary method that will fix everything. Gurus market their...
Collective Grief, Healing, and Hope: Navigating the Path Forward
by Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach In the face of unimaginable loss, the weight of collective grief binds us together, reminding us that our shared humanity is both fragile and resilient. The LA wildfires have resulted in the destruction of...
I Resolve to Have a New Year!
If you've been following along with us, you may have caught our article on handling the holidays when they’re not the merriest time of year. Despite the fact that holidays are technically NYE/New Year’s inclusive, we thought the pressures surrounding New Years...
3 Cost-Free Ways to Spice Up Your “Holiday Sexy”
by Jamie Azar, Certified Relationship and Intimacy Coach Regardless of all the pressure materialism creates around the holidays, most of us recognize the true value in simply spending time with people we care about or enjoying uninterrupted time with ourselves....
Not Always Merry and Bright: Surviving and Thriving During a Not-So-Happy Holiday Season
Despite what social media, entertainment, family, and of course the rampant and unbridled commercialism might lead you to believe, the holiday season can be an acutely painful and difficult time. As much as it can cast everyone in a warm glow of good will, it can...
How Partners & Couples Can Soothe Stress and Stay Connected This Season
How Partners and Couples Can Soothe Stress and Stay Connected This Season by Jamie Azar, Certified Sex Coach The holiday season is upon us, and for many people, that may involve making travel preparations, decorating homes, attending children's holiday plays and...
Purity Culture: Untangling the Thread of Shame and Rape Culture
“Purity culture” is a semi-religious cultural and societal movement which emphasizes sexual abstinence, placing extreme importance on virginity and sexual restriction, with roots in midcentury American Evangelical Christian teachings. Its birth as a movement can be...
Are You Following A Linear Model of Sex?
How to Have the Sex You Want on Your Own Terms by Jamie Azar, Certified Sex Coach Sex doesn’t have to be a linear experience, though when it comes to sex, society has primarily taught us that it is. We are expected to escalate activities until we reach “the ultimate...
Tantric Sex: How Slowing Things Down Can Heat Things Up
Tantric sex is one of those buzzy expressions that feels like perhaps we might vaguely know what it is/know of it, especially as the mist and mysticism around sexuality in the western world has begun to lift. But like many of our sexy buzzwords, tantra has often...
3 Helpful Ways to Improve Your Sex Life 💫
Discovering your joy and body’s pleasure is your own individual journey, so I can’t define it for you. However, as a sex, relationship, and intimacy coach, I can share some of the barriers to pleasure, and some helpful reframes to cultivate more interest and curiosity in embracing your pleasure and distinct erotic expression.
Yoga & Breathing Exercises for Body Connection
Aaaaaand we're back with another newsletter, pals! This week is about physically returning to your body through yoga and breathing exercises. This practice is designed to be flexible with your schedule! Someone might have an hour to set aside, while others might only...
Differentiation in Relationships -Reigniting Connection
Differentiation In Couples Relationships: Reigniting Connection by Jamie Azar, Certified Sex Coach When we neglect to maintain our independence and autonomy in a long-term relationship, we risk “merging,” “fusing” or “enmeshment” with our partner. In essence, what...
Surrogate Partner Therapy
This team approach to sex therapy does more than alter your sex life, it can change your life. As a psychotherapist working with and specializing in sex and sexuality, I have had the honor of working with and observing the highly effective and life changing...
Unraveling the Neurodiverse Experience: Intimacy, Trauma, and Sexuality
This piece explores the "neurodiverse experience – its unique capacity for intimacy, connection, and sexuality, even if experienced differently. Understanding Our Differences Understanding the interplay between trauma and neurodiversity is crucial. Trauma, whether...
Pornography, Addiction, and Shame: Some Working Definitions When Working with Clients
Growing up in a society that demonizes porn or even bans it outright can create a lot of shame around utilizing adult entertainment videos for sexual arousal and release. That shame can produce concerns of whether or not an individual is addicted to porn, leaving them...
My Masturbation Journey
I haven't always been one to share my ~personal stories~ on the internet, but here's what I've come to learn—personal stories are precisely what makes people feel heard, seen, less alone, less weird, less shameful, more comfortable, and like they have permission to...
What is Monogamish?
You’ve heard us talk at length about monogamy and polyamory, and the variety of challenges, adventures, and sometimes conflicts that arise within the contexts of exploring either of these two relationship dynamics. Given that ethical or consensual non-monogamy...
Connecting With Your Body After Religion
As someone who has been working with folks deconstructing their religion for almost three years now, there is a common theme I notice in my clients. Religious messaging has left a lot of adults feeling like their bodies aren't inherently theirs and are underserving of...
Budget-Friendly Ways to ~Spice Things Up~
Life isn’t always ~setting the mood~ for sexy time. In fact, for most folks, sexy time takes work, and even if it doesn’t sound like it, work can be sexy (trust me). Here’s the deal: you aren’t alone. So many folks are in the same boat. But don’t fret; even if it...
Make Way for Play!
Question for you: when’s the last time you really laughed?Think about that for a moment. ... I recently attended a workshop on Pleasure Through Laughter and Play led by Jenny Shealy, LCSW, and this was one of her opening questions. She cited an interesting statistic...
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”: a Problematic Policy for Polyamory
You’re probably familiar with the phrase "Don't Ask Don't Tell"– a policy the US military said was inclusive to the LGBT community, but which was actually rooted in oppression and discrimination. Don't Ask Don't Tell encouraged secrecy, shame, and suppression of self....
What You Need to Know About Individual Therapy from a Couple’s Therapist…
What happens when one partner is in therapy and the other is not? Much as we might sing its praises, not every person out there is in therapy, and fewer still have “always” been in therapy. It comes as no surprise, then, that therapy–whether you’re in it or not–can...
3 Sex Myths….DEBUNKED!… Most of What You’ve Learned About Sex is Untrue!
What if I told you the path to better sex involves unlearning almost everything you’ve ever been taught about sex and sexuality? That GREAT sex doesn’t necessarily involve learning a new technique, position, renting a hotel room, or trying a new toy (though those can...
Polycular Science 101: What is a Polycule?
A polycule describes the intra-relationship network amongst polyamorous relationships and how they function and relate to one another. As you can probably tell, it's the conjunction of “poly” and “molecule” and is aptly named when you consider the bonds and...
Moving Towards Sexual Liberation: Thriving after Domestic Violence and Sexual Trauma
Surviving the impact of domestic violence and sexual trauma is no easy feat. The physical, emotional, and psychological toll can be overwhelming. But here's the thing – you are not alone. I've worked with countless clients who have walked this path, and today, I want...
The Big NO–Orgasm Denial, and Why It’s More Fun Than It Sounds
Very often–some might say perhaps a little too often–the predominant focus in sex and sexuality is achieving (and completing...) orgasm. The drive to come is strong, and there is an endless font of resources available to those on that journey. But what about the other...
Sexting Right Away–Red Light/Green Light?
It’s the holiday season, and you know what that means–maybe time with friends and family, our favorite treats, grand expectations of “warm, fuzzy feelings,” and for many of us, the boredom of the hometown, which often leaves us scrolling our phones to escape, running...
Breaking Barriers: A Close Look at Ethical Non-Monogamy
In an era where personal freedom and emotional intelligence are highly valued, discussions regarding our traditional views of love and relationships have begun simmering in every nook and corner of society. 'Breaking Barriers: A Close Look at Ethical Non-Monogamy'...
Unveiling the Taboo: How Sex Coaches Can Transform Your Sex Life and Boost Confidence
Discover the secret weapon that can transform your sex life and boost your confidence: sex coaches. In a society where sexual taboos often prevent open and honest discussions about our desires and needs, sex coaches offer a safe and judgment-free space for exploring...
Restructuring Your Long-Term Relationship
Our romantic relationships face a tremendous amount of pressure--societally, socially, sometimes internally. Whether verbalized or not, there is a permeating idea that your romantic partner has to be your "be-all, end-all," providing everything you could be seeking in...
5 Questions to Answer *Before* You Try Polyamory
When we engage in any kind of relationship, it always starts with a choice; we make decisions and then stand by them, and make subsequent choices which support that first one. As you probably know by now, we at LAST tend to encourage everyone to get away from the...
What is Compulsory Sexuality?
What Creates Pressure? It’s undeniable that our culture and media is obsessed with sex. Naturally, the representation, miseducation, and stigmatization catalyzed by the media can have detrimental impacts on one’s own understanding of sex and sexuality. With the number...
“Veto Power” and Why It May Not Serve Your Relationship
“Veto power”--if you haven’t heard the term since 9th grade U.S. Government class, we’ve got a new definition for you, and this one comes with some potentially messier complications. While you may be familiar with CNM (consensually non-monogamous)/ENM (ethically...
Lies We’re Still Telling about ~The “D” Word~
Til death do us part: five small words, with centuries of enormous significance behind them–however unjustified. The goal of divorce is understandably not on anyone’s romantic “to-do” lists; we enter into the contract of marriage intending, for the most part, to...
Healing From Infidelity
Infidelity can come in many forms, whether it be emotional, physical, financial, or otherwise. What is considered cheating also depends on an individual or couples' definition of cheating, and also on the agreements previously determined in the relationship. It’s...
Painful Intercourse? There’s a Name for That!
There are few things that can put a damper on your happy, healthy, sexual life quite like painful intercourse. For those with vaginas, painful intercourse can also be known by another name, vaginismus. Vaginismus is predominantly a psychological problem, which yields...
How to Navigate Mismatched Desire
S*x can be hard to talk about, especially when there is discomfort, embarrassment, or shame around the issue. In fact, one of the most common problems in relationships is mismatched desires, which can be a difficult issue to both confront and discuss with a...
Help! When Performance Anxiety Plagues the Bedroom
When performance becomes a priority in the bedroom, we deny ourselves the expansiveness and depth of our pleasure. Performance anxiety in its simplest terms might look like “putting on a show” in the bedroom for the sake of maintaining a persona, or upholding ideals...
What a Slap in the Face!…If You’re Into That Kind of Thing
It’s pretty standard amongst humans that we do our best to avoid being humiliated–the classic nightmares of public speaking without your notes, or showing up to school naked come to mind. However, humiliation, much like other seemingly unrelated behaviors, can...
Understanding Erectile Disorder
Erectile disorder (more widely known as "erectile dysfunction") affects about 1 in 3 AMAB individuals, but it nevertheless can be a source of distress and shame for many dealing with it. In order to unpack the complicated feelings about, and determine the potential...
Multiple Orgasms: So Nice, You Did it Twice!
Defined as “orgasms happening in quick succession…within seconds or minutes of each other,” multiple orgasms can seem mysterious and, perhaps, simply mythical. However, great news for those with vulvas, they are both real and entirely possible for every vulva from a...
Green-Eyed Monster: Friend or Foe?
Despite its being one of the most prevalent hurdles we face within any relationship–romantic, platonic, familial–jealousy often goes unaddressed and swept under the rug. Moushumi Ghose, LMFT encourages us to take a closer look at this fickle feeling we tend to judge...
Exploring the Benefits of Somatic Sex Therapy
With so many modalities of therapy available now, it can be easy to forget that until recently, the scope of traditional therapy was confined to a somewhat narrower definition. Indeed, for many, the word “therapy” still conjures the archetypal mental picture of a...
Psychodynamic and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: a Combined Approach to Sex Therapy
Now up on The Sex Talk, Mou chats with LAST team member and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, Kane Slosburg, on the philosophies they integrate into their practice, and together Mou and Kane dive a little bit deeper into the functions of those modalities, and...
Exploring the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Sex Therapy with Devin Green, LPCC
If you’ve been following along with LAST for a while, you’ve hopefully had a chance to meet Devin Green, LPCC, and read in earlier posts about the new frontier in psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy. Devin is a compassionate practitioner of this...
Shades of Non-Monogamy: Wayne & Melissa
Non-monogamy: the subject can be a touchy one, particularly as it is yet another relationship road seemingly less traveled, and therefore less openly discussed. The less we know about something, the scarier it is. There are plenty of people who prefer and enjoy...
How to Have an Anal Orgasm
You've probably heard of anal orgasms, as either fact or fiction, and we're here to tell you that they're real, they're possible, and they're just as pleasurable! We're not just talking about the physical benefits (tighter muscles, increased blood flow), but also...
Mental Health vs. Insurance Companies
While LAST will still be working out-of-network we will be parting ways working directly and in-network with health insurance insurance carriers this March 2023, and we feel that it’s important to talk about why. Despite the medical benefits that insurance affords to...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy? What a trip!
If you’ve ever struggled with mental health, you know that there are a wide variety of techniques and practices available when seeking treatment. Plenty of these are more common, and increasingly encouraged and supported by mainstream mental health care–mindfulness,...
See you there! Desire Summit – February 11
The time has come for the Residence 11 Desire Summit, this Saturday, February 11th! Join LAST founder Moushumi Ghose, MFT with LAST therapist Melissa LeSane, MFT for a full day of squashing shame as we learn how to navigate healthy, honest, joyful, and fulfilling...
7 Reasons You’re Bleeding After Sex (with No Pain)
Many of us are familiar with the scenario of the bleeding-after-sex scare. But if you’re not having pain, it’s probably not what you think. In fact, there are lots of reasons why you might be bleeding after sex—and many of them aren't as scary as that first sight of...
How to Safely Navigate Kinks With a Vanilla Partner
If you’re kinky and in a relationship with someone who isn’t, that can feel really daunting. We don’t live in a society that welcomes open, honest conversations about sex, so when it comes to practices that are considered “taboo,” broaching the topic of kinks with...
A definition: your guide to demisexuality
What is demisexuality? If you’re reading this, chances are you have some questions about the term. And that’s okay! Demisexuality is a new word to most people, so it can be hard to wrap your head around it. To help you understand what demisexuality means and how it...
How to have great sex standing up
While having sex standing up can be more challenging than fun, there are ways to make it amazing. Standing sex can feel like the most inspired idea in the universe until you’re getting thrusted into at an awkward angle by someone whose height doesn’t align with yours....
Sexual Health and Intimacy for Cancer Patients
When you're diagnosed with cancer, it can feel like your life is over. But it doesn't have to be that way! We know that being diagnosed with cancer is scary, and it's hard to stay positive when you're worried about your health and the future. But there are lots of...
Are you a Lucky Winner?
Hey, fellow sex-positive person! Are you ready to get the most out of your sex life? Because I am! And I know YOU will be too. We've got something amazing in store for you on February 11th, 2023: the first annual DESIRE SUMMIT! in Los Angeles and live-streaming around...
How To Have Painless & Pleasurable Sex
Pain during sex is incredibly common and very distressing for those who experience it. It can have real and lasting impacts on your life and well-being. We need to be talking more about this topic because, frankly, it doesn’t get enough airtime AT ALL. As a society,...
Meet Moushumi Ghose, the founder of LAST
Mou is a sex therapist, author, and founder of LAST. An activist at heart for sexual and gender freedoms, she has dedicated her life to helping people unlearn harmful messages, and come into their own. Let us hear her story of how she came to this calling and her goal...
Kids and Sexuality: It’s Time to Stop Walking on Eggshells
When we think of sex therapy, we generally assume this takes place with (and is for) adults or couples. This neglects the importance of helping our children understand sexuality and their bodies. If you are a parent, an aunt or uncle, or a much older sibling, you know...
Why It’s OK to Question Your Sexuality Throughout Your Life
We all have to grow up. We all have to learn how to deal with our bodies, the world around us, and the people in it. But when it comes to sexuality, there seems to be an expectation that we’ll know what we want when we see it. And yet: we don’t always know what we...