Category: Couples Retreats

Most of us learned early that sex was something to manage, not something to inhabit.
We were taught to cover, contain, or control our desire—to treat it as dangerous or embarrassing. Even when we tell ourselves we’re “sex-positive,” those old imprints linger. They live in the body: in the tightening of the breath, the turning away of the eyes, the small collapse inside when we feel

Why Mindful Relationship Sex Therapy Training Is for You—Even If You Don’t Work with Couples At a recent Meet and Greet, someone asked, “Do I need to work with couples to benefit from this training?”  My initial response was that while it’s fine not to be working with couples now, the training might be less relevant for those who don’t intend to in the future.

One of the most liberating truths about sex is this: it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, real sex has no scoreboard. It’s not about flawless technique, acrobatic stamina, or hitting every cue. It’s about presence, connection, and letting go. But many of us don’t experience it that way. Instead, we get caught in what I call the Performance Trance — a cultural mindset that reduces sex

Desire, Novelty, and Self-Revelation Whether biological or psychological, sexual familiarity often dampens desire—and humans thrive on novelty. Novelty gives us that exhilarating high. But the deeper question is: do we truly need something new, or do we need to reveal more of ourselves? Non-Monogamy as Authentic Expression For some, non-monogamy is a conscious and life-affirming choice. It isn’t about chasing novelty for its own sake—it’s about expanding

In our daily lives, it’s common to feel that we know ourselves, our partners, and our intimate experiences well. We operate under a sense of certainty, building beliefs around what’s possible or impossible in our relationships. Over time, we can become entrenched in the idea that things are fixed. But what if we consciously let go of these preconceptions? What if we shift from a

Within the realm of consciousness lies a profound aspect of relationships, one that often goes unexplored—the issue of sexual boredom. It’s a common phenomenon, creeping into the lives of most couples as time passes. But why does it happen? Repetitive routines, low expectations, and mechanical interactions all contribute to losing the spark of creativity and engagement. We become prisoners of habit, following the same script

Are you ready to embark on a professional journey that delves deep into the potential for profound growth within long-term erotic relationships? Welcome to our Certificate Training in Mindful Couples Sex Therapy, where we invite you to join us on an odyssey through the realms of intimacy and pleasure. Discovering Beauty in Challenges: Igniting Your Erotic Vitality In our society, we see intimacy challenges as

“Sitting in circles with couples of different backgrounds, orientations, in ages has shown me that passionate sex is rare in long-term relationships. Many couples report that the real-life sex they are having is more often triggering or a routine. They feel deadended, inadequate, and lonely. I hear the same things in my sex therapy practice. Jerome and Keisha miss the magic they once made in the

By Karen Baikie, Ph.D   Rachel stirs in bed as she hears a familiar noise. Then, with a start, she’s sitting up. The clock says 2:19 am. Glancing over at her husband Craig, who is sound asleep, she raises her eyes to the ceiling, slips out of bed, and makes her way down the corridor towards the noise. Her four-year-old son Joe is sitting on

Here at Passion and Presence, we usually find that one partner is more interested in our retreats than the other. If you’re reading this article, that’s probably you. Perhaps you’ve done a lot of personal work on yourself through therapy, meditation, or retreats. You put your growth first, and you look for ways to improve your relationship and your erotic life ongoingly. The problem is