The 12 Stepping Stones

Would you like to share your name? Rachel Robbins

What prompted you to become involved in a love, relationship or sex related field?  At a young age, I witnessed friends and family struggling with identity and the aftermath of challenging and traumatic situations. I decided I wanted to be part of a community that made a difference in creating an open dialogue and environment around sexuality.

What is your title? Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Sex Educator

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do?

I am a long time sex educator and sex therapist and specialize in providing non-judgmental supportive psychotherapy services for a range of sexualities including LGBTQQ, BDSM, Kink, non-monogamy, gender fluidity, and sex workers. I help with working through issues with sexuality, and supporting kinky/LGBTQQ individuals with non-sexual concerns.

As a sex educator, I offer free, accurate, non-judgmental, confidential information and referrals regarding all aspects of sexuality and gender over the phone and via email.

What sort of education, background, experience etc do you have for this work?

I have a doctorate in psychology, with an emphasis on gender and sexuality. I have completed 2 60 hour training courses in sexuality, along with multiple other workshops and trainings for specific aspects of sexuality.

What sort of additional training did you feel you needed to do more for your clients? I specifically sought out most of my non-doctoral sexuality training in order to participate in a community and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for competent work.

How long have you worked in this industry? Almost 15 years

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it? My main focus is on sexuality of all kinds. Within my therapeutic work, one goal is addressing and supporting sexuality concerns after trauma.

What lead you to that specialty? I have found that many professionals are challenged or afraid of addressing sexual concerns, specifically with individuals with a traumatic background. My belief is that people from all walks of life, and all ranges of experience, deserve and can have healthy and happy sexual experiences.

What has been the hardest thing about your work? Navigating a system and community that can be judgmental about the sexuality of others.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work? Creating a space for people to feel comfortable with their sexuality either as a focus point, or as one aspect of who they are.

Tell us about your business.

How long have you been in business? One year.

Did you expand an existing business? No

Do you have a website and/or blog? Yes. www.drrachelrobbins.com

How could someone get in touch with you? Email- Rachel@drrachelrobbins.com or phone (415) 625-9778

Who are your favorite types of client? I enjoy working with clients who identify as LGBTQQ or kinky, and/or who are motivated to accomplish their goals, even if they are not sure what those goals are yet.

How do you promote your business? Online, and through word of mouth.

Have you written any books or developed any products for your clients? no

Would you like to share your name?

Yep! Hi, I am Jane H. Sheeba.

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do?

I am passionate about writing articles. I actually like to write about issues and their fixes. Other than love and relationships, some of the topics I cover include, self improvement, motivation, time management, productivity, goal setting and tips for blogging. Since I discovered that I write a lot I thought it would be cool to start a blog and so I ended up blogging. I work full time as a Scientist doing some research in Medical Physics (and if I start telling about that, few lines won’t be enough You can find a little more about my research here (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/spc/research/nbmphysics/sheeba.htm) and here (http://en.scientificcommons.org/jane_h_sheeba).

How long have you worked in this industry?

Writing article/Blogging – since 2007. Research – since 2005.

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it?

I actually blog on multi niche. But one of my main interests is “Love and Relationships”.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

To keep up the motivation steady! It is really the hardest thing I have ever experienced.

What has been the easiest thing about your work?

When I am turned on, I can work without breaks even for 2 days. I can get a lot accomplished this way, quite easy.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work?

My determination.

What additional training did you feel that you needed to do more for your clients?

I plan to give a 30 day e-training course and an e-book – both are on my to-do list and am working towards them.

How long have you been in business?

Since 2007.

Did you expand an existing business to include love and relationship coaching?

Yes, I originally started to blog mainly about self improvement and later expanded to include love and relationship stuff.

Do you have a website and/or blog?

Yes, I do. http://findallanswers.com and the blog’s name is Find All Answers.

How could someone get in touch with you?

I like to be easily accessible. I have a dedicated contact page at my blog. (http://www.findallanswers.com/contact-jane/)

Would you like to share your most unusual experience?

Here I am blogging! This is the most unusual thing I would ever experience in my life. I am a Medical Physics scientist and I never ever thought I would end up blogging up issues on life and technology. This is also the most unexpected thing in my life. I remember reading somewhere (I think at Copyblogger) that blogging is not for science people.

How do you promote your business?

I use mainly social networking to promote my business. I do have some handful of friends and family well-wishers who also do some promotion for me.

Have you written any books or developed any products specifically for your clients?

I have written one free e-book named “Your guide to better time management”. I am working on a more serious course work one on Relationships and the other on motivation. I hope to launch them very soon.

If so, definitely share some details and links for more information.

You can freely download my ebook here Your guide to better time management. (http://www.findallanswers.com/free-ebook-time-management/)

What did I forget to ask?

Hmm.. nothing actually. But I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts. While answering your questions I took my memories a few years back when I started blogging and so on. So it was a really nice and memorable interview. I enjoyed answering your questions.

Dr. JANE H. SHEEBA

Research Scientist
Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics
Bharathidasan University
Tiruchirappalli – 620 024
Tamilnadu
India.

You can benefit by developing a healthy self-love. Learning to love yourself helps you develop self-esteem, self-respect and confidence. These traits enable you to find and enjoy a healthy, happy and satisfying love. Loving yourself can also lead to a very satisfying love life. To learn more about how to Make it Happen! Discover More Love and Passion, click here. Tune in to help yourself, whether you’re single and looking for love or if you’d like to make an existing relationship even better.

Click to listen here http://webtalkradio.net/shows/ready-for-love/ or download your copy of the show.

Get your FREE copy of my ebook on love coaching – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/make-it-happen/ and my ebook on Art of Kissing from Head to Toe – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/kissing-head-to-toe/.  There is a special offer in the back of each ebook. You can connect with Ready for Love Radio on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ready-For-Love-Radio/188040544549076, This is the place for insider information about the show and a great place to share your thoughts and questions.

~*~

Would you like to share your name? Art Noble

What prompted you to become involved in a love, relationship or sex related field? Or, what helped you to be a “sex positive” person? My experience.  I’m just a guy with an engineering background, a former college professor who had a transcendent sexual experience.  It opened a tiny path from my left-brain to my right, or something.  I’ve been blessed by knowing some fantastic women and cursed with curiosity.  My academic background aided my research into just what the heck is going on.  There is a lot more than we know!

What qualifies you to be a “sex positive” person? Tell us how you contribute to the growing “sex positive” community. Any and all of us can be “sex positive”.   It is simply a matter of attitude, which is hard to change after 5000 years of misogyny.  I have the ability to learn and teach.  My sexual experience is beyond modern sexual science, so I have had to research the ancients, before sex got a bad rap.  Along the way, I found out when, where and why sex got a bad rap.  I teach that along with anatomy and physiology (sexual responses).  Also, female sexual anatomy is fascinating even from a clinical view.  It terms of creating sexual energy, women are three times more equipped for it than men, and as Teserais said, “If parts of love’s pleasure are divided by ten, Thrice three go to women, one only to men.”

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do and how you help people to be more “sex positive”? I point out the when, where and why of sexual negativity so that my readers and listeners can face, trace, erase and replace their negative inhibitions with positive thoughts and possibilities.  I teach that every woman is different.  I teach them about anatomy and what their bodies are capable of when their minds are no longer cluttered with misinformation.  (It’s epigenitics, but we won’t get in to that here.)  A good example is the male prostate (source of ejaculate) consists of 12-14 ducted glands around the urethra, neatly enclosed in the prostatic capsule, snuggled up next to the bladder.  The female prostate consists of 40-42 (+/-) ducted glands, generally near the opening of the urethra (meatus).  But, these glands are not encapsulated and may be scattered along the urethra in a cone shape, narrowing toward the bladder, or in a lop-sided dumbbell shape.  These glands are still called “non-functioning para urethral glands” by many in the medical community, but believe me they “function” just fine in many women!  Since female ejaculation is preceded by “the urge to void” as Masters and Johnson noted while women shut down in their lab, many women do not ejaculate out of fear of urinating on their lover.  They deprive themselves of 10 times the pleasure they could feel, if they let go.  Men need to know this too!

What sort of education, background, experience etc do you have for this work? I view sexual love as a spectrum and wherever people are, they are.  I simply point out that it is a spectrum and there is far more than they are aware of. Then, I give them intellectual tools to use to increase their acceptance of their partner’s responses, increasing their enjoyment of the spectrum.

What sort of additional training did you feel you needed to do more for your clients? I teach and I write.  My last book, The Sacred Female, describes first-time, female ejaculation in a 42 year-old woman.  (It is reported first-time for women in their 60’s, so it’s not just for kids!)  It also alludes to orgasmic vaginal discharge, a much more copious (and pleasurable) flow, which may be amrita, as tantra names it.  It also includes orgasmic bioluminescence, or “Dragon’s Fire/Breath,” where one or both may glow, emitting photons, lighting a darkened room.  As I said earlier, my experience goes far beyond science, but science has a long way to go.

How long have you been “sex positive”? I’ve always liked sex but my first epiphany was when it occurred to me, girls were not for taking to bed, they were for waking up next to.  Now, THAT’S an epiphany!  Next, was the transcendent experience that led to a minor transformation.  I say minor, because I am still growing.

How did your “sex positive” journey begin? My main focus is love.  Sexual love is not the only transformative experience.  It is just the most fun.  But other forms of love are fun too.  And the more forms of love we can incorporate in our lives, the easier our growth will be.  Of course, I’m trying to “engineer” love too.  It has the two attributes of energy: transmittal and transformation.  Guys can get a hold on these concepts!  What happens to our minds and bodies to transform us is a kind of alchemy!  Although, science in Russia is beginning to investigate this “love” stuff, we have a long way to go there too.  But for our purposes, rather than focusing on this stuff, the easiest way is to focus on giving and receiving love from your partners.  Since, whatever you call God, is probably better at it than you are, get your ego out of the way and let God do it through you.  You’ll be amazed!

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it? Love is the answer!  I always thought that was bull-hocky, but it works naturally to create what we call “miracles”.  With love, “miracles” are an everyday occurrence.  And “hot sex” becomes a nuclear explosion!  Sex is not an Olympic event; it is a mechanism for transmitting love, so that we may be transformed.  When men can see a yoni, a sacred place, rather than a hunk of meat, they will be amazed at what can happen to them.  And women, recognizing a wand of light that is giving them the gift of love…  Ahhh!  What a wonderful world it will be.

What is the hardest thing about your work? The hardest thing is overcoming 5000 years of misogyny: religious, political and personal as expressed by “voices of authority.”  In 1886, Kraft-Ebbing said, “Female ejaculation is a lesbian condition.”  In 1905, Freud said, “A woman views a mucous discharge from the vagina as disgusting.”  (It comes from the urethra, Dummy!)  But, in the Judeo-Christian ethic, female ejaculation was believed to be required for conception for 3000 years and probably more… and was promoted by the Roman Catholic Church!  Access to a blog can be found on my website, www.thesacredfemale.com.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work? As men and women find greater pleasure in the conduct of their sexual lives, I am happy.  As they are transformed, this is really neat!

Tell us about your business. Business?  I have an MBA, but this is a passionate mission.   I teach (Lectures, no labs).  I am a writer and a poet.  Obviously, as an engineer, I was a technical writer before the poet was awakened.  Now, I find it fun to blend the two into English so people can understand what I say, and I do it with a sense of humor.  I am currently writing a book with Dr. Beverly Whipple and Dr. Franceen King as contributing editors.  The tentative title is, The Alchemy of (Sexual) Love.  It is taking shape.  It has gone from “blob” to “mish-mash”, and the next step is a “hodge-podge”.  Soon, it will be a book.

My website is www.thesacredfemale.com. My radio shows are archived on Women’s Radio Network at http://www.womensradio.com/users/Al-Cole-and-Art-Noble/707/episodes.html or you can access them and my blogs on Women’s Radio Network through links on my website.

Do you have a website and/or blog? My website has a contact page and the address is info@thesacredfemale.com.  Women’s Radio Network also has contact information under their speaker’s bureau.

Who are your favorite types of client? My favorite type of “client” is one in whom I can see the lights come on!  They get it!  But, if they are simply willing to listen for a while, that’s great.  The lights may come on later.

Would you like to share your most unusual experience? Having answers for questions I may not have asked.  Knowing people’s names I’ve never met, and I’m lousy with names!

How do you promote your business? I promote my mission on the Internet mostly: website, radio shows, interviews, and recently an e-mail campaign for The Sacred Female.

Have you written any books or developed any products for your clients? Yes.  My “product” is information, both oral and written: The Sacred Female, and my work in progress, The Alchemy of (Sexual) Love.  (Do you see how sneaky I am by getting in a lot in this interview?)  The Sacred Female is available on Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, etc., and I have it in e-book format as well as hard copy on the website.  There are some great reviews there, so I’ll let somebody else blow my horn for a while.

Thank you for taking the time to share information about yourself and your “sex positive” experiences and your journey. Thank you, Nikki.  I always appreciate the opportunity to get a little information out into the public.  There are more of us out there.  Keep up the good work.

~*~

I’d like to share an interview a friend and associate – his name is Kevin Johnson. He is the marketing manager for Pipedream Products (some blog visitors are familiar with some reviews I’ve done for Pipedream). Kevin also does some gorgeous photography and he’s going to share some details about both of these topics.  Read on for more details.

Would you like to share your name?

Kevin Johnson (aka Boots Bryant)

What prompted you to become involved in a love, relationship or sex related field? Or, what helped you to be a “sex positive” person?

I’ve always been a sexual person ever since I hit puberty at the age of 11. I was raised in an extremely strict religious household and while sex was talked about, it was very forbidden and restricted. Naturally, being somewhat of a born rebel, I gravitated to whatever was forbidden by my parents and began to explore sex early on. I of course made mistakes along the way, so as an adult I enjoy being able to help educate people on things of a sexual nature so they can hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls I found.

What qualifies you to be a “sex positive” person? Tell us how you contribute to the growing “sex positive” community.

Real life and on the job experience. I’ve been in the adult industry since 2004 in various positions including marketing, PR, and product development. One of the products I designed/developed recently won a 2011 AVN Award and several more are nominated for XBIZ Awards this year.

Currently, I am the Public Relations Manager for one of the leading adult novelty manufacturers in the world. Part of my job is helping customers understand products better and educating them on how they work. We have an ‘ask a Sexpert’ section of www.PipedreamProducts.com and I’m in charge of getting those questions answered for people, either by myself or someone on our Sexpert team.

I’m also a freelance writer and photographer and use these mediums to inspire people to use their imaginations again. With the glut of in your face porn that is out there, I feel like there isn’t enough fuel for people to use their minds anymore. Between erotic fiction and artistic nudes and fetish imagery, I help people to unlock their imaginations.

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do and how you help people to be more “sex positive”?

I have always been the ‘go-to-guy’ for friends who have questions about sex or need to talk about thing of a sexual nature that they can’t confide in anyone else. Now I just get to do it professionally at my day job. A lot of people are new to the world of sex toys, and won’t ask a clerk in a store face to face questions they may have about sex or specific products. But having a place to come where they can anonymously ask a Sexpert, they’re a lot more comfortable.

What sort of education, background, experience etc do you have for this work?

All of my experience has been culled from real life and on the job. I come from a Writing, PR & Marketing / Sales background, then moved into being a professional toy reviewer, to product developer and back to PR & Marketing.

What sort of additional training did you feel you needed to do more for your clients?

I’ve literally helped make sex toys from the initial concept & design, to a working prototype that I tested and sent back for revisions. This trial and error process forces you to learn about anatomy, your body, as well as the toys themselves better than merely reading a book in school. I’ve learned a lot about materials and ingredients and enjoy being able to help people by sharing this knowledge with them before they go and shell out their hard earned money on a toy that isn’t right for them.

How long have you been “sex positive”?

As I said, I’ve always been a sexual person since I hit puberty, but I really started taking this seriously as a career and profession in the last five years once I learned I could talk about dildos, butt plugs and anal eaze without blushing.

How did your “sex positive” journey begin?

In therapy while I was in Junior High School crying about how I wanted to kill myself because I was gay. The therapist helped me realize that I’m still a good person and that I should work toward one day helping other people realize that they are okay for exactly who they are. We all have our own unique individual fingerprints on our hands. I think the same is true when it comes to our sexual preferences and sex identities. We should be more open as a society in accepting each other and appreciating the beauty in diversity.

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it?

Photography. I do both mainstream (weddings/headshots/event) and adult (artsy nudes and fetish) and use a different name for the more adult oriented work.

What lead you to that specialty?

A friend asked me to take some naked photos of him for his online profile after he was recently single. They came out REALLY good. Shortly thereafter, I got to interview Joe Oppedisano when I was writing an article for AVN Magazine and he was releasing a coffee table book. I got to go assist him on this shoot and decided that is what I wanted to do, but with my own finger print on the finished image. I’m still working at it.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

Finding the time to do everything. I don’t get many nights of sitting and watching TV or doing nothing. I don’t remember the last time I uttered the words “I’m bored.” And I don’t get to hang out with friends as often as I’d like.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work?

Getting private emails from friends or strangers who tell me that I helped them feel better about themselves, or find self acceptance, or that my work helped them find pleasure by having a better orgasm.

Tell us about your business.

Business #1: Pipedream Products is a leading manufacturer of adult novelty and pleasure products. More information about the company can be found here: http://pipedreamproducts.com/about_us-10b.phtml — If you have questions about any of our sex toys they can be asked on the Sexpert area of our site: http://pipedreamproducts.com/sexpert-2.phtml or by emailing: info@pipedreamproducts.com

Business #2: BootsBryant.com – freelance writer and photographer available to help with public relations, brand consulting, marketing, publicity and photography needs. I also have several projects that I’m working on including a magazine, apparel and coffee table books I plan to release in the next couple of years. Since I do have a full time day job, these projects are what I work on in my spare time when I’m done with work for my clients.

How long have you been in business?

I launched my website in 2008. It currently routes to a page where a wall calendar of my work is being sold and will be put back and re-launched in the spring to showcase a complete portfolio of my work.

Do you have a website and/or blog?

www.bootsbryant.com – main site

www.igotdirtyboots.wordpress.com – photography blog

How could someone get in touch with you?

contact@bootsbryant.com

Who are your favorite types of client?

People who are friendly and enjoy bouncing ideas off each other.

How would you describe your ideal client?

Someone who keeps their end of the bargain in a deal, pays on time and is down to earth and talks like a regular person.

Would you like to share your most unusual experience?

I ran an ad scouting for models for a specific project and ended up getting a response from a guy who hired me to take pictures of him for his own private use. He was a preacher, married to a woman, and they had two kids. He wanted to be stripped naked and tied up and have it photographed and paid me to do this and give him a disc of the images.

How do you promote your business?

Total grass roots marketing here. Passing out my cards at events I’m working, social networking sites, word of mouth referrals from satisfied clients and a little online advertising now and then.

Have you written any books or developed any products for your clients?

I haven’t written any books, but I’ve had short fiction stories published. As I mentioned before I developed several product lines some of which have been nominated or received awards in our industry.

If so, definitely share some details and links for more information.

So as not to disrupt the peace at my current full time employer, I can’t divulge details on my product lines that I developed. They were released by a competitor.

What did I forget to ask?

Am I on the twitter? Why YES I am… www.twitter.com/thebootsbryant – I had to put ‘the’ in front of my name because someone has the other parked and empty. I’m also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bootsbryantmen – these are where people can keep up to date on my fetish artsy adult photography and projects I’ll be releasing later this year.

Those interested in sex toys should fan Pipedream www.facebook.com/pipedreamtoys or www.twitter.com/pipedreamtoys – we’re always doing fun contests and giveaway for chances to win FREE goodies.

Thank you for taking the time to share information about yourself and your “sex positive” experiences and your journey.

Today – my sex positive interview continues and I’d like to introduce you to Allisa Scott.

Would you like to share your name? Allisa Scott

What prompted you to become involved in a love, relationship or sex related field?

From a young age I was fascinated with sexuality and the more I learned about how taboo it was in my family and then in society, the more I wanted to learn about it. It was a mysterious, fascinating and mystical world to me. I grew up in a conservative family and it was not something that was openly discussed (I was only told about sexuality when I was 11 and started to menstruate, and it was explained to me more in terms of my biological functioning than anything else).

When I went to university and found out there was a minor in studies in sexuality, I just had to obtain it. I then completed my first master’s degree with a focus on family, gender and sexuality, studying young women’s fluid sexuality. I then completed my masters of social work and have an interest in one day obtaining my sex therapy certification, but for now I am starting a private practice where I will be offering counselling in areas of gender and sexuality, and I am interested in couples counselling as well.

I have also been involved in the polyamorous communities and kink communities across southwestern and central Ontario in Canada. I have been involved with a number of conferences and continue to have an interest in academic and research components of sexuality as well. In addition I wrote a sex column for 6 years, briefly wrote for an online International Kink magazine, and am now writing for a local Rainbow Community (lgbtq) magazine.

In my personal life I realized that I was interested in more than just men romantically, so after becoming involved in numerous groups and committees and discovering where I fit into the sexuality spectrum, I have a great respect, and continued interest in areas of identity, sexuality, as well as gender orientation and the gender spectrum. I am an educator and trainer in these areas as well, and am very excited to make a career doing what I love.

What is your title? My official credentials/titles are as listed in this order: H.B.A, M.A., M.S.W., R.S.W., however, I also use the following titles: Counselor, Diversity, Gender and Sexuality Specialist, Counselor, Consultant & Trainer.

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do?

I work with individual clients, groups or families to help them with issues related to gender and sexuality. I train agencies, businesses, and organizations to be more inclusive of diversity (including gender and sexual diversity), and I offer customized consulting in areas related to diversity.

What sort of education, background, experience etc do you have for this work?

Honours Bachelor of Arts, Minor in Studies in Sexuality, Masters in Sociology with a focus on Family, Sex and Gender, and a Master of Social Work. I am a registered Social Worker in Ontario. In addition I have many years of life experience working in/with numerous LGBTQ, kink, and polyamorous communities.

What sort of additional training did you feel you needed to do more for your clients?

Continue training in couple therapy techniques, as well as obtain my sex therapy training in the future (I plan to attend an intensive sex therapy training this upcoming summer).

How long have you worked in this industry?

I am just starting my business in February 2011, however, I have been an educator and trainer in areas of diversity, gender and sexuality for over 15 years now.

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it?

Gender and Sexual Diversity

What lead you to that specialty?

The search to understand my own fluid identity as well as a fascination in these areas, lead to my focus. I also find that few people are experienced in this area of work, and many people still mix up and misunderstand the difference between gender and sexuality. It impacts our lives in ways that people do not realize unless they are faced with it themselves, so I am interested to continue to offer education and bring awareness to these issues.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

Acquiring the credentials to do this work in Canada. There are very limited options, and very little awareness about the field of sexuality as a career at schools. So this lead me to take an untraditional route to getting certified (I did not take a BSW as many people would, or go to the Sexuality program at the University of Guelph as it was not an option for me at the time). Now it will continuing to legitimize the field of gender and sexuality in the fields of counselling, consulting and training.

I have also found funding to be an issue. Unless you are directly related to a research grant or have your own funding for this type of work, it is not always supported or understood. Therefore, I took a lot of unrelated jobs or was underpaid for my work as a result. It has been hard, but I am finally going to do the work I have been wanting to all these years!

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work?

In counselling, it has been: working with people, and empowering them to get comfortable in their own skin, reconnecting families with one another after someone comes out, being able to support and recognize people when they are misunderstood by others, taking part in positive change and healing in people’s lives. Connecting to people or giving them space to be heard or recognized when they have been forgotten, left behind, hurt or lost in some way.

In consulting and training, it has been given the opportunity to expand people’s understanding of gender and sexuality to show them how it relates to their lives and the work they do, to actively be involved with reducing discrimination because of educating people, to support and network with local organizations and communities to create partnerships and stronger, more inclusive cities.

Tell us about your business.

My business is called Inclusive Counselling, Consulting & Training. I will be offering individual, couple, group or family counselling in areas of gender and sexuality as well as other areas of therapy. I am also training to offer online therapy. I am available to assist organizations with becoming more inclusive by offering training, or by working with their Human Resources teams to optimize their worker satisfaction and inclusion.= as well as meet the needs of Canadian legislation (i.e. Human Rights Code, Canadian Equity Act, as well as the new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

How long have you been in business?

I will be starting in February 2011. Before this, I have worked in numerous related jobs.

Did you expand an existing business?

When I originally decided to start my own business, I was only going to offer counselling and training, but have been requested to offer consulting because of my areas of expertise in diversity, so I am now offering consulting as well. So I did not expand an existing business, I just expanded my current business idea before I started business.

Do you have a website and/or blog?

My website is http://www.inclusive-cct.ca/ and I am considering a blog and newsletter as well.

How could someone get in touch with you?

Contact me at my email at: inclusive.cct@gmail.com or at allisascott@gmail.com If someone requires my phone number they can email me and ask for a phone consultation.

Who are your favorite types of client?

Clients that are willing to be open to the change process, explore themselves, expand their minds and welcome more diversity, difference and inclusion into their lives and/or business. This goes for working with individual clients and with organizations. I think too many businesses are more concerned with their legal “due diligence” that they do not realize how non-inclusive they are, or who may be getting left out in their current training.

How do you promote your business?

I will be promoting locally online and in print. However, I will be expanding to promote my business elsewhere once I am certified incyber counselling because I can then work with clients internationally.

Have you written any books or developed any products for your clients?

Not yet, but I plan to.

Would you like to share your name?

My name is Dr. Brian Rzepczynski, DHS, MSW

What prompted you to become involved in a love, relationship or sex related field?

I’d been working as a therapist/counselor since 1992 (I’ve always had a strong desire to help people with personal development and enrichment), and many of my clients presented with relationship and sexuality issues. To be able to better understand and treat these issues, I pursued further education to expand my clinical skills and repertoire to be able to better serve my clients rather than referring them out to other specialists.

What is your title?

I am a Gay Dating, Relationship, & Sex Coach

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do?

I specialize in providing individual and couples coaching to gay men (I work with all genders and sexual orientations too!) to help them maximize their success in dating, relationships, and sexual intimacy. I also offer classes, workshops, and programs over a variety of topics related to relationships and sexuality and services are conducted over the telephone or in-person on an international basis.

What sort of education, background, experience etc do you have for this work?

I have a master’s degree in clinical social work and a doctorate degree in human sexuality. I also have additional certifications in life coaching, relationship coaching, sex education and clinical sexology, and other various mental health certifications in such things as anger management and grief recovery.

What sort of additional training did you feel you needed to do more for your clients?

I’m an education fanatic. I’m always trying to keep myself current and to keep my brain stimulated by taking various classes and certifications to better serve my clients. I love to learn and would rather read a clinical or self-help book than a fictional novel for fun.

How long have you worked in this industry?

18 years as a therapist and 7 years as a coach

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it?

I work predominantly with gay men on dating, relationship, and sex issues, but work with all genders and sexual orientations.

What lead you to that specialty?

As a gay man, I felt that there was a lack of resources available for the gay community on how to have healthy relationships and sexuality. To fill that void, I pursued additional studies and built a secondary business to my therapy practice that focuses exclusively on teaching the GLBT community (predominantly gay men) skills and strategies for improving their success in their dating lives, relationships, and sexuality. My coaching business, The Gay Love Coach, was born in 2003 to meet this need.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

The most challenging and sometimes painful part of my work is having to deal with homophobia. I frequently receive hate mail, false subscriptions to my mailing list from people who think it’s funny to sign up someone they know to a “gay site”, and on occasion have even received letters with veiled death threats and statements of a violent and abusive nature for the work that I do. Over time, I’ve learned to accept this as being par for the course and that my mission and those that I am able to successfully reach and positively impact is far more important than dealing with ignorance and prejudice. Homophobia is an unfortunate consequence of what I do, but my passion for spreading my message about affirmative gay relationships helps to buffer that and actually helps to motivate me to keep fighting even harder.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work?

Being one of the pioneers in love coaching specifically for gay men when coaching starting to become more of a presence, it’s been highly rewarding to be able to make a difference in the lives of gay men and to help them recognize that gay relationships DO count and DO last. Witnessing the success of my clients is what makes it all worth it!

Tell us about your business.

I offer individual and couples telephonic and in-person coaching. I also conduct workshops, classes, and programs related to gay dating, relationships, and sexuality. I have a blog and an advice column and have written a multitude of practical self-help articles for the gay community on these issues that have become viral all over the Web and has aided in my being contacted by various media for interviews.

How long have you been in business?

18 years total

Did you expand an existing business?

Personal Victory Counseling, Inc. is the name of my private therapy practice, which serves all ages (children, adolescents, and adults) and populations. It was established in 1999 and I expanded the practice to include my coaching business, The Gay Love Coach: Man 4 Man Coaching Services in 2003.

Do you have a website and/or blog?

Yes. It is http://www.thegaylovecoach.com

How could someone get in touch with you?

My e-mail address is brian@thegaylovecoach.com and my phone number is (630) 375-7416.

Who are your favorite types of client?

While my specialty is coaching gay men, I work with all genders and sexual orientations who are motivated and who desire to build a lasting and satisfying intimate relationship.

Would you like to share your most unusual experience?

The most unsuspecting outgrowth of my coaching practice has been the frequent contacts I receive from the media for interviews. I’ve been interviewed and/or quoted by The Chicago Tribune, MSN.com, and Esquire Magazine. I was interviewed by a singles radio program on gay dating and was even approached and signed by a media production company to be the resident sex coach for a reality TV show that was being produced (unfortunately the project was dropped due to lack of financing). I’d never imagined reaching these heights when I first started, so it’s been a very enjoyable secondary benefit to the business.

How do you promote your business?

A lot of it is now word-of-mouth, but I also do a lot of marketing through writing articles and distributing them to various article directory sites, publishing a monthly newsletter, promotion through social media platforms, and occasional advertisements in event pamphlets.

Have you written any books or developed any products for your clients?

I am co-author of the 2005 self-help book “A Guide to Getting It: Purpose & Passion” in which I wrote a chapter about how to develop “zest for life.” I am currently in the midst of developing some products for my site and have plans to write my own book.

If so, definitely share some details and links for more information.

http://thegaylovecoach.com/shop/a-guide-to-getting-it-purpose-passion/

Nikki Leigh, relationship coach, is a guest on Unsolved Issues radio with Dreama Jennings – listen live at 7 pm ET or join the chatroom (you need to register to access the chatroom) http://www.unspokenissues.com/2011/03/nikki-leigh-love-coach-sexpert-march-24_22.html

This is what Dreama had to say about my ebook – Make it Happen! Discover More Love and Passion. “I simply love Nikki Leigh’s books and normally I’m not much for ‘love advice’ but this book changed my opinion. Nikki wrote in such a way that I found myself wanting more. Nikki truly can reach into the hearts of us all to help us realize all of us truly do deserve love Thank You Nikki”

Get your FREE copy of my ebook on love coaching – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/make-it-happen/ and my ebook on Art of Kissing from Head to Toe – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/kissing-head-to-toe/.  There is a special offer in the back of each ebook. You can connect with Love Prints Relationship Coaching on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Prints-Relationship-Coaching/188040544549076 – or they are for sale on Amazon for 99 cents each.

http://express.paltalk.com/ptviewer280x390.swf

Would you like to share your name?

Sure. Kelly J. Connell, M.S.Ed., Ed.D(c)

What prompted you to learn more to become a Love Coach or a Sexpert?

As a teaching assistant for an undergraduate Human Sexuality Class and an employee of Planned Parenthood, I began to feel that if people were educated about sexuality they would become more comfortable with their own sexuality which would result in healthier relationships as well as people being more comfortable with pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention. I really began to see sexuality as a quality of life issue which can affect each aspect of our lives. Sexuality is something that is studied in a multi-disciplinary facet as you can look at it from many perspectives including psychological, sociological, anthropological, culturally, biological, etc. and sexuality is much more than sexual behavior, or intercourse rather it encompasses all we are and we value it for the pleasure it derives us. I knew I wanted to spend my life helping people reach become educated about sexuality so their quality of life would be improved.

What is your title? Love Coach – Sexpert – Party Planner – etc –

I am a Sexuality Educator and Consultant. I guess you could use the term “sexpert” to describe me.

In a few sentences, how do you describe what you do?

I provide education, training and consulting to a variety of populations regarding many sexuality issues. I have worked with a variety of populations including underserved at risk youth, college students, medical professionals, support groups and senior citizens. My emphasis has been on sexuality and health care issues including sexuality in persons with chronic illness/disability.

How long have you worked in this industry?

About 19 years

Speaking of the industry – how do you classify the industry or business that you work in?

I am not sure what you mean by classify. I would say as a sexuality educator I work in a variety of settings, including health care, education, public speaking and consulting

If you have a main focus or niche – what is it?

Sexuality and health care issues. Working with health care providers and patients.

What lead you to that specialty?

Seeing how patients are grossly underserved by health care providers when it comes to addressing sexuality issues, and the lack of education and comfort among both patients and health care providers when it comes to how health care issues can affect sexuality and how sexual function issues can be a symptom of an underlying medical problem. Fewer than 1/3 of medical schools in the US offer any classes or training on sexuality issues yet patients report they feel their health care provider is the appropriate person to address sexuality issues.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

Getting paid. Funding for anything but abstinence only education dried up during the Bush administration. It can be hard to find places with any money in their budget to pay you for your work.

The conservatives who fight any type of sexuality education other than abstinence only, who don’t want us in the schools and who have an agenda that includes preventing any kind of comprehensive sexuality education that includes discussion and acceptance of LGBT persons, as well as any approach to sexuality that does not focus on the negative aspects of sex. I was shocked the first time someone approached me and told me how wrong they think I am for doing what I do for a living. I was not prepared for such a negative reaction.

People expecting free advice and services when they meet me casually and find out what I do for a living. Everyone has a “friend” with a problem, and while teachable moments exist where you least expect them, sometimes when I am out or at the Dr. or at a party, I just want to be the customer etc.

What has been the easiest thing about your work?

Having a genuine passion for what I do. Not everyone gets to do something they love for a living.

What has been the most rewarding thing about your work?

Knowing I have made a difference in people’s lives. Recently I agreed to meet with a woman in a nursing home who has a debilitating chronic illness and had some serious questions about sexuality. I did this pro bono because I found out she was on Medicaid and had no extra money. I have never had anyone so happy to have me work with them. At the end of our time together I knew I had made a difference in the way she viewed herself as a capable sexual person and it once again reinforced my knowing why I do what I do. Giving people information, skill building, or even just leaving them with some things to think about can really alter the way they relate to themselves and others when it comes to sexuality. Knowing I have contributed to a positive experience and change for them is very rewarding.

What education do you have to do this sort of work?

I have a Master’s Degree in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania and am currently completing my dissertation for my Doctorate in the same at Widener University. If you want to be an educator this is recommended. You can also go the clinical route and become a certified therapist, which is something else I am working on. Many who go the clinical route have a degree in Social Work as well. I definitely think one needs education specialized in human sexuality. There are many people out there billing themselves as sexpert or sex educators that really have no formal training in sexuality.

What additional training did you feel that you needed to do more for your clients?

I need to complete my Doctorate. I am submitting my paperwork to AASECT to become a certified educator. For my career goals I need the Doctorate Degree. Some can meet their goals with a Master’s.

Tell us about your business.

I have www.sexpertkelly.com which is a fun website with mainstream news stories and articles I write about sex and sex tips etc. Soon I will be launching www.kellyconnellconsulting.com which will be used to market myself in many capacities. I am an educator, consultant, public speaker, and am qualified to do many things including teach, work with groups/organizations on curriculum development, policies and procedures, facilitate small groups, work with patients and health care providers in support groups or trainings. I hope to be doing a lot of different things with this.

How long have you been in business?

I have been a sexuality educator for about 19 years.

Did you expand an existing business to include love and relationship coaching?

Not yet but I am considering becoming a relationship/sex coach and adding this to my consulting services.

Do you have a website and/or blog?

www.Sexpertkelly.com which is now undergoing renovations

www.Kellyconnellconsulting.com which I hope will be launched soon.

How could someone get in touch with you?

My email is connell.kelly@gmail.com

Who are your favorite types of client?

Anyone who is open to learning.

Would you like to share your most unusual experience?

I don’t know that I have had the most unusual experience yet. J I did have a 2^nd year Family Medicine Resident tell me until I have my presentation he didn’t know people in wheelchairs could HAVE sex. This was disturbing on many levels.

How do you promote your business?

I have a facebook fan page, I twitter, Linkedin, and other social networking sites. I go to conferences. I write articles for other websites. I look for local opportunities and may do something free or at a reduced cost in exchange for a recommendation.

Have you written any books or developed any products specifically for your clients?

Not yet but I have a book possibly in the works.

Friday March 18 – Nikki Leigh, relationship coach, is a guest on the D’Anne Burley show – to listen live (7-8 pm ET) or to download the show later, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/danneburleyshow/

Get your FREE copy of my ebook on love coaching – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/make-it-happen/ and my ebook on Art of Kissing from Head to Toe – http://myfreeinformationarticles.com/kissing-head-to-toe/.  There is a special offer in the back of each ebook. You can connect with Love Prints Relationship Coaching on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Prints-Relationship-Coaching/188040544549076