One of our sex therapists Melanie joins us to unpack purity culture and how it relates to the patriarchy. We discuss how the patriarchy hurts everyone, including men, the evangelical roots of purity culture and how it leads us all to have less fulfilling sex. Melanie talks about how she became drawn to sex therapy and her own experience with discovering that she was bisexual. Melanie shares her favorite ways to work through this with clients and resources for how you can improve your sex life or break out of purity culture if you can't work with a therapist.

Join Melanie's upcoming workshop on The Patriarchy & Pleasure www.therapyforwomencenter.com/events

Resources mentioned: "The Principles of Pleasure" on Netflix, "Shameless: A Sexual Reformation" by Nadia Bolz-Weber, "Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good" by Adrienne Maree Brown, "For the Love of Men: From Toxic to a More Mindful Masculinity" by Liz Plank, "Hot and Unbothered: How to Think About, Talk About, and Have the Sex you Really Want" by Yana Tallon-Hicks.

To learn more about our practice or to book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com

Keep up with us on instagram by following @therapyforwomencenter

To suggest a topic, ask us a question or make a suggestion visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com/podcast

TW: If you are dealing with infertility or trying to conceive we recommend you skip this episode. Leah Wright comes on the podcast today to discuss how to decide if you want to have children. Amanda shares about her experience with how she made the decision and shares about her mental health journey while being pregnant. We also discuss mental health medication if you are pregnant and how to make that choice. Leah specializes in postpartum, fertility and working with parents and she shares her best advice for deciding whether you want to have kids and how she supports individuals trying to conceive. Fern shares about how she works with couples who have differing beliefs about having kids. Resources Mentioned: Emily Oster's books "Expecting Better" and "Crib sheet", "The Baby Decision" by Merle Bombardieri.

To learn more about our practice or to book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com

Keep up with us on instagram by following @therapyforwomencenter

To suggest a topic, ask us a question or make a suggestion visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com/podcast

Both Gabby and Fern are getting married in less than 6 months, so we discuss how planning a wedding can impact your mental health, how to set boundaries around family members, curbing expectations, and ways you can stay present on your wedding day. Amanda shares some of her favorite things she did on her wedding day to reduce anxiety. Follow @therapyforwomencenter on instagram. To book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com

Gabby and Fern interview Amanda about how her story of recovery from an addiction and eating disorder, how she decided she wanted to become a therapist and the journey that led her to create Therapy for Women. Follow @therapyforwomencenter on instagram. To book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com Follow Amanda on instagram at @therapyforwomen. Link to Amanda's book "Not Drinking Tonight" available on Amazon and wherever books are sold https://www.amazon.com/Not-Drinking-Tonight-Guide-Creating-ebook/dp/B093ZQ94GP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3CNLEQEGJMSIP&keywords=not+drinking+tonight&qid=1674766048&s=books&sprefix=not+drinking+tonight%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-3

Follow @therapyforwomencenter on instagram. To book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com Fern's book recommendations: "Come as you are" by Emily Nagoski, "She Comes First" by Ian Kerner and "The Guide to Getting It on" by Paul Joannides

Follow @therapyforwomencenter on instagram. To book an appointment with one of our therapists (either in person in the Philadelphia area or in 23 states) visit www.therapyforwomencenter.com Gabby's recommendations for OCD treatment outside of therapy- Free App "NOCD" https://www.treatmyocd.com/; to visit Mark Freeman's youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@everybodyhasabrain and his books https://www.markfreeman.ca/books/; Jenna Overbaugh OCD specialist on instagram https://www.instagram.com/jenna.overbaugh/?hl=en

Join licensed therapists, Amanda White, Gabby Salomone and Fernanda Formel each week as we break down therapy topics and answer your questions. Think of us as your therapist friends you wish you had in your back pocket. Friends you could text in the middle of the night and ask...

WELCOME TO THE THERAPY FOR WOMEN PODCAST

 "Is this normal?"

 "How do I tell this to my partner?"

 "I saw this TikTok video telling me I have X diagnosis, is this true?"

We got you! Whether you're contemplating therapy for the first time, already in therapy, or reconsidering it, this podcast will empower you with tips, advice, and plenty of real talk so you can get the most out of your sessions.