Overcoming Barriers to Healthy Sexuality for S/MGAs (Doni Whitsett) - Video

Part 1 of this series discussed some general sexual issues of S/MGAs. Part 11 addresses more specific issues with which this populations often struggles.

The life of a cult child is highly controlled and their personality shaped to conform to the expectations of the leadership. These expectations carry severe consequences when not adhered to. While some groups suppress erotic development, others foster indiscriminate sexual activity creating an atmosphere that is inappropriately sexually charged and overstimulating. Anxiety surrounding sexuality may result in the sexual self becoming alienated. Messages instilled by the cult leader or belief system may continue in a person’s psyche and body after a former member throws off the constricting cult norms and seeks to explore their own sexual potential. Learning to cope with these messages is necessary to be able to engage in healthy relationships.

Insecure attachments characteristic of families in cults well as messages instilled by the cult often contribute to biological sexual dysfunction. This talk will address some specific sexual difficulties in the various phases of sexual response (i.e. desire, arousal and orgasmic phases) and offer suggestions for overcoming them.