Something Positive for Positive People

We open out the gate with ethics of people practicing various forms of therapy without any certifications. Sometimes people NEED therapists, but WANT a friend. Without being dismissive, we sort through how you as a friend can suggest therapy without running the risk of losing a friend like we may fear.

The conversation went several different directions but definitely loads of useful information and nuggets. For starters, people aren't necessarily boring, they are often HIDING. Hiding their true selves in fear of being found out and judged.

Why do we sometimes feel more safe opening up to strangers than we do our own support system?

Can there be romance without finance? Why do we make marriage about love when it has historically been about status and resources?

We discuss compersion in multiple relationships and how outsourcing different needs and wants is more of the norm. When one feels challenged by this, you have to ask why you view it as a threat.

Last but not least, queer sex is where it's at!

If you're considering purchasing a herpes cure from one of those social media accounts that shares the Gmail email address as a contact, please just don't.

What you should do is consider listening to someone who did purchase it so that you can be best equipped to make the best decision for yourself. Our guest shares the red flags she missed so that you can find your way to healing that doesn't cost $2k.

As of the release of this podcast episode, there is no known cure for herpes that permanently removes the virus from our nerves, prevents outbreaks or protect partners from exposure.

Our guest's story involves sexual assault so protect yourself as needed while listening through this podcast episode.

Respecting identities is suicide prevention. Our guest this week shares her earliest memories of homophobia experienced by her father. She reflects on her anger up until 35 years of age when she finally saw fit to just be herself. Despite having lost her comfort in the privilege she had, she is far more happy and confident now than she ever was in denial about who she was. Please enjoy this episode of Something Positive for Positive People with Staci Bratten!

The response we receive to our first disclosure often shapes how we move forward with future disclosures. A positive experience shapes our expected response just as a negative one does. We talk about disclosing in kink in a sense of comparing sex in kink communities as it parallels with driving in NASCAR. I really loved this analogy! Most important, we discuss the idea that relationships aren't all about sexual intimacy. It's more than that and when we enter relationships, we share space psychologically, emotionally, energetically.

There’s an echo that follows when I speak but our guest is crystal clear. I encourage you to listen without headphones or just turn me down when I speak so that you can get this great content from Laura!

Seems like whenever I question or doubt myself in this space I'm met with just what I need to see or hear from someone. I share thank you messages on social media but this one . . . I let Heather share

There are many ways to get involved with advocacy. In my experience, I've connected with people who get inspired by someone's work in this space and charge into making a social media post sharing that they are positive for herpes. If you're in that space, I encourage you to listen to this podcast episode so that you have more perspective to make the most informed decision you possibly can.

After a positive diagnosis, one can experience a loss of identity. Clarice Connelly and I go into the development of identity and healthy places to construct your new identity.

Welcome to the 100th spfpp episode (by number). I answer a few listener questions and interview the mind behind the sexually expressive Instagram handle, @strictlysex, Follow her for a sex positive, explicit sharing of sexual turn-ons, wins and conversations with like-minded people in this space. We talk about her recent diagnosis with genital HSV-1 and her experiences with past partners who've had herpes prior to her diagnosis.

Dr. Evelin Dacker joins us with a safer sexual communication model she constructed from many resources. STARS as described in this episode can be a useful tool for a herpes disclosure to prospective partners. This method calls for self awareness and the identification of intentions in order to create conscious relationships with others. Herpes is a tricky virus - We only ‘kill the mood’ based on how we carry shame - You are not your infection, it’s a part of you - Consent is the bigger picture - STARS is a model for conscious relationships - Herpes tests aren’t great

Check out Dr. Dacker's work:

http://maketimeforthetalk.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Z6mKMGq4M

Save 20% off your first at home STI test kit from LetsGetChecked when you visit www.TryLgc.com/spfpp and please don't forget that spfpp there.

Get 10% off your first month of counseling/therapy at www.betterhelp.com/spfpp

What does race have to do with sex education? .Why are minorities at a greater risk than their counterparts for STIs and teen pregnancy? What factors play a role in teaching black and brown communities sex education? How do we use the truth to keep our youth from being vulnerable to deception? We answer these questions and address parental concerns about teaching sex ed to their kids who "shouldn't be having sex in the first place".