One of the most important aspects to remember when discussing the topic of sex and disability is that people with disabilities are sexual beings. Oftentimes, people assume that those with disabilities have no sexual desires or needs and tend to treat them as children or victims in need of protection. In reality, the majority of…
Tag: romantic
Glossary of Sexual Orientation/Gender Terminology
Sexual orientation and gender are immensely complex, and the various terminologies related to them can be very confusing. Below is a list of definitions to help provide a clear understanding of various terms surrounding sexual orientation and gender. DISCLAIMER: Some of the following terms are derogatory, offensive, and outdated, and should not be used as…
Building Trust
Trust can be defined as relying on the integrity, word, and promise of another individual.1 Most people would agree that trust is a vital part of a relationship. Those in romantic relationships may have noticed that trust does not always come naturally in relationships and often takes a lot of work to develop. A person must…
Overview of Sexual Orientations
Sexual orientation is a term that describes a person’s sexual, emotional, or romantic attraction, as well as the gender(s) of the people they are attracted to.1, 2 Sexual orientation differs from gender identity in that gender identity describes a person’s psychological identification with a particular gender, rather than their attraction to people. The Kinsey Scale—developed…
The Neurobiology of Romantic Love
Romantic love is one of the most universal human experiences. More than 20 years ago, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher studied 166 societies and found evidence of romantic love in 147 of them.1 According to Richard Schwartz, associate professor of psychiatry at MacLean Hospital, romantic love must be wired into our basic biological nature due to…
Asexuality
Sexuality exists on a continuum, and not within a dichotomy of heterosexual and homosexual. Thus, there are many different types of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation describes a person’s preferences for whom they find emotionally, romantically, and sexually attractive. One type of sexual orientation is asexuality, or the lack of sexual attraction to individuals of any gender. For example, someone might…
How to Give a Sensual Massage
A sensual massage is a massage that focuses on the partner’s erogenous zones to provide both stress relief and increased intimacy between both partners. This is a very unique activity that provides both partners with the opportunity to build intimacy and trust. Sensual massages are unique because the goal of the sensual massage is not…
Love and Attachment
Love and attachment often go hand in hand, but they are different nonetheless. There are many different theories that attempt to understand and explain what humans know as love. Attachment is defined as the feeling of being emotionally close to someone and is often a major component of love. There are both healthy and unhealthy…
Fantasy
Fantasies are thoughts, images, daydreams or scenarios that often lead to an increased sexual arousal.1 Fantasies are completely normal, and they are nothing to be ashamed of. These imagined situations enable an individual to rehearse different sexual scenarios in a nonthreatening setting. The content of fantasies vary from person to person; they can range from…