What does proactive relationship care actually look like? In this conversation, Dr. Jessica O'Reilly breaks down the simple daily practices that prevent relationship breakdown and explains how cancer survivors can rebuild intimacy when bodies and identities have fundamentally changed.

What You'll Learn:

• Why relationship quality (not just having a partner) is what impacts cardiovascular health, mental health, and longevity
• The 1-5-30 formula for maintaining relationships proactively: one minute daily, five-minute weekly check-ins, and thirty-minute monthly dates
• How to start intimacy conversations after cancer diagnosis without jumping straight to "what will sex look like?"
• Why practicing clinical and pleasure language out loud matters for healthcare providers
• Communication strategies for couples when one partner is navigating chronic illness or cancer treatment

About Dr. Jessica O'Reilly:

Jess O'Reilly (@SexWithDrJess) is a sex and relationship expert with a background in education and behavioural and organizational psychology. Her research and passion involves teacher training in sexual health and she works primarily with business leaders to improve relationships from the boardroom to the bedroom. Jess is also a television personality, author, podcast host (@SexWithDrJess Podcast) and award-winning international speaker who has facilitated hundreds of corporate workshops and retreats in 45+ countries from Lebanon to Switzerland.

Theme Song: "All Over the World" by Proteje and Lila Iké

Key Topics Covered:

• Dr. Jess's journey from high school teacher to relationship expert
• The gap in sexual health education for teachers (only 15.5% of Canadian teacher education programs had mandatory sex ed training)
• How Western culture centers intimate partnerships and why that makes relationship quality even more critical
• The protective health mechanisms of quality relationships
• Why couples wait too long before seeking support
• Using popular culture (Netflix, TikTok, streaming content) to start difficult conversations
• The sexual values interview as a foundation for rebuilding intimacy
• Teaching children anatomical language for safety and empowerment

Resources & References Mentioned:

• Book referenced by Kristen: Women's Anatomy of Arousal by Sheri Winston
• Weekly relationship check-in questions (available through Dr. Jess's resources

Connect with Dr. Jessica O'Reilly:

• Website: Happier Couples
• Instagram: @sexwithdrjess
• Podcast: Sex with Dr. Jess Podcast

Keynote Speaker Announcement:

Dr. Jessica O'Reilly is the keynote speaker at The Pleasure Principle Conference on May 8, 2026 in Hamilton, Ontario. Her session, "Pleasure as Practice: Eroticism, Desire, and Connection After Cancer," will provide healthcare professionals with practical strategies for supporting cancer survivors' sexual health. Learn more at blueberrytherapy.ca.

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