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OTPF Body Structure and Function Highlight

bias intimacy occupational therapy occupationaltherapy pleasure preferences sex sexplay sexual dialogues Oct 15, 2022

Despite anecdotal evidence regarding the potential for pleasure from anal play, it remains a taboo subject in the context of female sexuality. This partly stems from the fact that we often associate anal pleasure specifically with anal sex, namely anal penetration of a penis, which can be a daunting proposition for a woman who has never experimented with any sort of anal stimulation.

But what if we looked at anal play as just as varied as the different flavors of ice cream and numerous options for toppings on an ice cream sundae??

Prior to their first experience with vaginal intercourse, most women experiment with other forms of vaginal and clitoral stimulation – be that masturbation, fingering, or oral sex with a partner – so why don’t we consider the potential for anal stimulation to be just as diverse and gradual?

To compound the issue, the research surrounding anal pleasure for women is influenced by this same preconception that anal pleasure = an...

Integrating Pleasure Throughout the Day

educational handouts occupational therapy occupationaltherapy pleasure preferences sensory features sex sexplay sexual activity sexual communication sexual dialogues sexuality Oct 15, 2022

The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition define "routines" as:

"Routines For persons, groups, and populations: Patterns of behavior that are observable, regular, and repetitive and that provide structure for daily life. They can be satisfying and promoting or damaging. Routines require momentary time commitment and are embedded in cultural and ecological contexts (Fiese et al., 2002; Segal, 2004; see Table 6)."

Working with clients on their sexual routines is one of my top 5 ways I fall in love with OT again and again - every time. It reminds me how perfectly situated Occupational Therapy Professionals are to discuss sexuality in our clinical practice. We understand the impact of routines and specifically how occupations are sequenced together to facilitate participation, satisfaction, quality of life, and in some cases a great roll in the hay!

Working with your clients to have and enjoy sex needs to involve a conversation about pleasure. ...

🚨 New Assistive Device for Folks with Disabilities 🚨

equality inclusive occupational therapy occupationaltherapy pleasure quality of life self-care self-love self-pleasure sex sexplay Oct 15, 2022

A fellow baddie, collaborator, advocate, and sex enthusiast, Andrew Gurza, is the brains (and body inspiration) behind an assistive device Occupational Therapy Professionals MUST know about. It’s my pleasure to share about this sex toy adaptor that is on pre-sale right now (more on that later).

The Bump’n Joystick adapter is the first sex toy designed for and by people within the disabled community. Research shows that impaired hand function is the biggest barrier to using sex toys currently on the market – over 50% of physically disabled people surveyed said they struggle to achieve an orgasm solo. The Bump’n joystick removes this barrier and makes self-love possible regardless of hand function, by utilizing a person’s gross motor movements.

So what is it? The Bump’n joystick is about 3 ft. long and made up of a cuddly pillow top and a gender-neutral peg attachment to hold the sex toy in place.

The body pillow is soft and comfortable and utilizes the...

New Sexual Wellness App for OTs!!

accessible sex education diversity equality inclusive occupational therapy occupationaltherapy pleasure quality of life self-care self-love self-pleasure sexassist sexplay Jul 28, 2022

When I first started addressing sexuality with clients and making recommendations for sex toys I went through the steps of printing out a screen shot of a vibrator on a work computer, folding it in half, and slyly giving it to my client in front of their families.

But now, thanks to the folks at Direct-Rec App, OT clinicians can share sexual wellness products directly and privately with their clients. Dang… where was this 10 years ago!?

Ok, so what is Direct-Rec?

Direct-Rec is a new app that can help clinicians share equipment and product recommendations quickly and securely with patients. The folks at Direct-Rec teamed up with the OT educators at the OT After Dark Podcast to create a category of sexual wellness products with information on how the products can be helpful to specific patients based on their specific challenges, sexual goals, or interests. This might be a vibrator with an extended reach, slings and supports to aid in positioning when limbs cannot support, an...

Up Next...Sexplay

dirtytalk intimacy occupational therapy pleasurefocus sensatefocus sexplay sexuality Jun 07, 2021

As promised, I'm continuing my three part series of important topics to cover when addressing sexuality and intimacy, which brings us to Sexplay. As a part of Sexplay, I'm going to talk about dirty talk, pleasure, and sensate focus. All of these can be helpful for our clients (and let's be real - US!) to understand as potential activity demands. Below are some strategies and exercises you can share with your clients!

DIRTY TALK

Communication is a key component during any sexual encounter and this can include using dirty talk to build arousal.

Tips to share with your client for creating their style of dirty talk:

Think about how you like to describe your body. What makes you feel turned on or sexy? Try to describe your partners body this way too.
What words excite you or make you feel aroused?
What sexual activities do you like to do? Describe this activity to your partner. Use your dirty talk inside and outside the bedroom.
Find inspiration for your dirty talk and expe...

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Author

Kathryn Ellis (she/her)

Hi! I'm an Occupational Therapist, ASSECT Certified Sexuality Counselor, and pleasure enthusiast! Here to write about all things sexuality + OT related. If you're an OT looking to learn more poke around the website. If you think you'd like to work with me for sexuality counseling, check out www.drkathrynellis.com to learn more!

FREE CEU: This is How We Do It: Sexuality & Occupational Therapy

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Recorded Course: OT and LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practice

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