Psychotherapist, Farzana Doctor, joins us to discuss her latest novel, Seven. She shares her own story as a survivor and an activist and discusses the role the body can play in healing. She also sheds light on the practice of female genital mutilation and cutting, which occurs in all corners of the globe, including North America. We discuss somatic therapy, labiaplasty, and the perils of white saviorism as well as her journey of healing post trauma.

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Rough Transcript:

This is a computer-generated rough transcript, so please excuse any typos. This podcast is an informational conversation and is not a substitute for medical, health or other professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the services of an appropriate professional should you have individual questions or concerns.

EPISODE 197: Somatic Therapy, Sexual Healing & FGMC

(00:05):

You're listening to the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast. Sex and relationship advice you can use tonight.

Dr. Jess (0:18):

Hey hey. Brandon how you doing today?

Brandon (0:20):

I'm doing pretty good. How are you?

Dr. Jess (0:22):

I'm good. I saw that you had a big day today.

Brandon (0:26):

I did, big morning.

Dr. Jess (0:28):

You had your first friend date since like, their first virtual friend date, since the onset of COVID. We're like ten months in and you told me you were going to have coffee with a friend online and I was like, “Oh my god. That's so exciting.” And I mean I know we talk about relationships. But I wonder if we should spend some more time talking about friendships.

Brandon (0:52):

Yeah I had a great, I mean just caught up with a friend over coffee. And like you said it was the first time since this began that I haven’t kind of jumped in on your group of friends to have some connection. So there's this friend of mine who we would meet once every week or two, have coffee, catch up, and honestly just talk. And not like surface, superficial conversations but deeper conversations. We've shed some tears together. When our dog passed away he was one of the few people that I shared the story with. And it was really hard for me and honestly I hope he doesn't mind me saying this but we were both like in tears, at this coffee shop which was a little different.

Dr. Jess (01:37):

So that was a few years ago. Darkhorse, in the Canary District district right?

Brandon (01:43):

Yeah coming up on about two years ago that happened. And since then we've shared in other things that have been going on in my life, and things that were going on in his life, and it doesn't always get deep, but it's nice to have a friend where you can dig a little bit deeper and you can open up because it's not something that I felt like I grew up with. I had a lot of friends that we that we really shared, I guess intimately about, like things of it.

Dr. Jess (02:09):

Yeah and I bring it up because you know, I'm super social and you tend to kind of pop in and pop out. And I think sometimes and correct me if I'm wrong, my friend group fills your social cup right? Like you kinda just come and hang with us for a little bit. Then you pull a Brandon and leave us. But I guess during these different times where I'm not seeing any of my friends right now, we are with two of my cousins here, that's who we're living with actually. They're moving out though tomorrow,