Veronica Monet, a relationship and sexuality coach – www.TheShameFreeZone.com – returned to the program. Dr. Diana and Veronica explored codependency and body shame in more depth – having touched on these subjects on the May 9, 2017 show. There are common misunderstandings about codependency; actually, it is more than being needy, dependent. The codependent patterns may include people pleasing and being a control freak. Future codependents naturally feel comfortable in relationships in which their needs are secondary or ignored, while feeling compelled to take care of someone else. Consequently, they will gravitate toward narcissistic or selfish people. To begin healing, assertive skills and healthy boundaries are necessary. Who am I? What do I need? Body shame was discussed in the second half of the show. How does a woman’s image of her body affect her sexuality – and her relationship with her partner? “Self-image neurosis” is often a way to avoid being sexual, an excuse not to abandon herself to another. She may lose her sensitivity to her partner and forgo pleasure. What to do about poor body image? A woman must cultivate the ability to appreciate her uniqueness, and start to see “imperfections” as endearing distinctions. Many people believe that self-hatred is a catalyst for change…What is necessary is to be deliberately kind to oneself. Visit The Shame Free Zone because in about a week Veronica’s formula for Your Guide to Exquisite Partnership will be posted.

Click below to listen to the interview (approx. one hour):

Dr. Jen Martin (www.drjen.net) interviewed Dr. Diana about low sexual desire, its prevalence, and the common reasons for it. Actually, it was a conversation between the two docs. What to do if you are the partner with lower sexual desire? How does it impact the partner with higher desire? What about the cultural conditioning on sexual desire?  All of these topics and more were discussed. Listen in because there is much contradiction and confusion around these topics.

Click below to listen to the interview (approx. one hour):

Jill Angelo, Genneve CEO (www.Genneve.com), interviewed Dr. Diana on the subject of Aging, Sexuality and Menopause. Jill started Genneve because she was committed to creating quality products and wanted to foster a community where women can find information, conversation, and inspiration. This show contributed to those goals! A woman’s lack of interest can be both physically and emotionally inspired. Dr. Diana spoke of solutions; she knows about them personally and professionally. BHRT (Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy) can help, so can talk therapy, and so can quality products like those offered by Genneve. Jill asked Dr. Diana how she addresses women who ask, “Is this it? Am I done? Is my life as a sexual being finished?” There was also a discussion about how sex can be very good for our health! And, what about sexual pain and body-image problems? These concerns – and more – were explored. Dr. Diana wants to see her clients restore emotional intimacy and reach their full sexual potential…Indeed, sex matters! Genneve’s products can help a lot: go to their website, or to Amazon.com, or to Walgreens.com. The goal is to treat the whole woman and the relationship!

Click below to listen to the interview (approx. one hour):

Living entails experiencing the pain of loss – both our own and of those we care about. Continuing to live also means finding ways to go on. Dr. Diana and Dr. Lori Buckley (www.DrLoriBuckley.com) discussed relationship and life transitions – personally and clinically. Both docs have had partners/husbands who have died. Dr. Lori observed that either you fall into the void or you find meaning. A metaphor for life after loss is both powerful and apt: Think of it as a scattered jigsaw puzzle, where the pieces of one’s former life have been scattered and now must be reconfigured in a new way. Even smaller stressors can take their toll. The vast majority of us will be faced with one or more major traumatic stressors during a lifetime. Resilience can help with that. Dr Lori likes to focus “above the line” with more positive thoughts, mindfulness, and embracing change. Positivity expands awareness, begetting more positivity – more noticing, more engagement, more appreciation, and more trust. Little actions help build a reservoir of goodwill as we grieve, and keep our ongoing relationships replenished. This is an inspirational program!

Click below to listen to the interview (approx. one hour):

I recently contributed to this Huffington Post article: 8 Lies About Sex You Need To Stop Believing, According To Sex Therapists.

Here’s what I said in the article:

Have you heard? More than just a feeling, LOVE is action. Two men taking action are Dr. Mitchell Tepper (www.DrMitchellTepper.com) and Dr. Mark Schoen (www.SexSmartFilms.com). Their labor of love is a collaborative documentary “Making Love after Making War” – a work still in progress. To help with the effort, please go to www.LoveAfterWar.org to sign up for the newsletter and to consider donating. Our vets are heroes, sometimes returning with catastrophic injuries resulting in PTSD, and intimacy/sexual problems – issues that are often ignored. Sadly, the suicide rate is huge. Our vets need counseling, they need more information. Emotional, sexual intimacy, and conceiving a child are often difficulties facing couples after war. We need to team up to help our injured vets rediscover life filled with passion, purpose, and pleasure!

Click below to listen to the interview (approx. one hour):