Overcoming Sexual Pain and Avoidance
in Six Steps
With Christine Rafe
If you’re experiencing any type of sensual or sexual pain, fear or avoidance, you do not need to keep ‘pushing through’. In fact, that strategy is actually working against you and feeding into the cycle of pain, fear and avoidance.
Purchase and receive lifetime access to the whole course including any updates and additions based on new research in best practice treatment.
Is this course right for me?
If you’re experiencing any type of sensual or sexual pain, fear or avoidance and any of the below resonate with you, then you’ve come to the right place!
You learned about sex through a infection and pregnancy lens only - how not to catch STI’s and how not to get pregnant
You received little to no education relating to pleasure, pleasure anatomy, desire and arousal
You’ve experienced pain or fear with sexual intimacy so you avoid it like the plague
You’ve experienced pain or fear with sexual intimacy but you have continued to 'push through’ because it feels like it’s expected of you or that it will get better with time.
You feel like your body is broken, or failing you because sex ‘should’ just work.
You hold shame, disgust or embarrasment when it comes to sexual intimacy or your sexual wants and needs
You have experienced any type of trauma - this could include sexual, relational, psychological and/or physical (including birth, surgical and other pelvic pain concerns).
You’re seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist and building awareness in the physical components of your pain, but you’ve reached a stuck point and can’t translate the physical progress to partnered sexual intimacy and intercourse
What’s Included?
Educational and instructional videos with Christine Rafe, and associated written content to provide verbal and written education, advice and instruction throughout the six steps.
Buildable personalised plan for overcoming sexual pain and avoidance to refer to and add to as you move through the course.
Downloadable worksheets including reflective and explorative activities for each step that help you hone in on what is keeping you stuck in your specific situation, and prompts to develop practical strategies to overcome and utilise your new-found knowledge.
Downloadable audio-guided practices based on each of the evidence-based strategies to overcoming sexual pain and avoidance/fear. These include both solo guided practices and couple guided practices (with non-penetrative and penetrative options).
Troubleshooting tips based on Christine’s extensive experience working with sexual pain and avoidance to support overcoming any stuck points as you move through the six steps.
Your Six Steps to Overcoming Sexual Pain and Avoidance
Step One: Understanding Sexual Pain and the Nervous System
Step Two: Overcoming Sex Negative Messaging and Sexual Pain and Avoidance
Step Three: Breaking the Fear - Pain Cycle
Step Four: Arousal is Essential to Pain Free Sex
Step Five: What About Desire?
Step Six: Pain and Fear Free Sex and Penetration
Renowned Sex and Relationship Therapist Christine Rafe creates safety to explore the delicate subject of sexual pain and avoidance, equipping you with evidence-based and practical strategies to face and overcome these intimate hurdles. Through engaging sessions, we'll unravel the complexities of sexual pain and anxiety, delving into the psychological, physiological, and emotional facets. Christine shares best-practice strategies and therapeutic approaches designed to reconnect with and rebuild a pleasure-positive connection with one's body and partner (if you have one). By understanding the roots of sexual pain and becoming equipped with psychological, physical and relational tools, you'll gain the empowerment to navigate the path from distress and pain to safety and pleasure.
Purchase and receive lifetime access to the whole course including any updates and additions based on new research in best practice treatment.
What You Will Learn
This course provides educational information that helps to challenge and reframe unhelpful beliefs keeping us stuck in pain and avoidance, but even more so, it provides practical solutions; providing real-world tools for lasting change. You'll get hands-on practice with relaxation, pleasure and arousal techniques and tools that have been proven to reopen the doors to intimacy and pleasure. By the end of the course, you'll be equipped with a personalized toolkit to help turn the bedroom back into a place of joy and connection, fostering healthier sexual experiences.
“When creating this course, I have focused on the elements of sexual pain, anxiety and disconnection that present in my private practice. Having worked with hundreds of clients with sexual pain, trauma and anxiety, I can see that overcoming sexual pain requires a multi-pronged approach that includes cognitive, social, physical, behavioural and relational strategies. This course is designed to be compassionate and comprehensive, weaving in the latest research with practical, real-world strategies and guided practices you can use again and again and either solo or with a partner.
You'll find it's laid out in a way that gently guides you step-by-step, making what feels scary and overwhelming possible in stages. The stages build on each other, offering a well-organized journey that not only empowers you with the knowledge to navigate your path forward but also instills a sense of hope and empowerment. I have put years of thought, research and experience into this course, ensuring that each lesson brings you closer to a more fulfilling and comfortable sex life.”
-Christine Rafe - Course Developer and Facilitator