Imagine what our world would look like if we all had the capacity to deeply love ourselves and others.
At Ananda, we believe that every individual is capable of creating a joyful, empowered, and self-expressed life. Sexuality is at the heart of every one of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Sex is the reason why we are all here -- literally -- and the joining of two bodies and souls can be a profoundly healing, and transformational, experience.
Most people approach sex in a goal-oriented way, focusing on performance and outcomes. This approach may lead to physical gratification, but it rarely leads to healing or transformation. In order to reach the depths of our partner's soul, and our own, we need to feel safe and seen, and we must allow ourselves to be open and vulnerable. This is difficult for most of us to do, because there are very few models in our culture or education for deep relating.
I have seen the power of relational healing, both in my own personal life and in my work. I have healed, and been healed by, connecting with my intimate partners throughout my life in various ways. And I have had the honor of guiding hundreds of clients through their healing process, using love and compassion as my primary tools.
Throughout my own personal healing journey over the past 25 years, I have experienced myriad healing and therapeutic modalities: clinical therapy, coaching, workshops, retreats, pilgrimages, energy work, EFT, EMDR, IFT, shamanic healing, and much more. One of the most effective healing modalities I have ever encountered is surrogate partner therapy. It is unique in that it uses the power of human relationship and touch to heal.
In my work as a surrogate partner I have used the simple tools of love, compassion, touch, and intimacy (or into-me-see; truly allowing oneself to see and be seen by another) to help people recover from trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, shame, pain, and sexual dysfunction. Surrogate partner therapy, like no other form of therapy I've experienced, gives people the tools to unlock their hearts, learn to love themselves and others, and access personal empowerment and true freedom.
Almost every client I've worked with has said to me at some point in their program, "Everyone should experience this." I started Ananda Integrative Healing Group because I believe that surrogate partner therapy is a uniquely powerful healing modality, and it should be available to everyone who needs it. Currently, it is a fairly unknown, and not widely practiced, form of therapy. Our group hopes to change that. We want every person who struggles with self-love or confidence issues, relationship problems, trauma, anxiety, or sexual dysfunctions to have access to the help and hope that surrogate partner therapy brings.
Imagine what our world would look like if we all had the capacity to deeply love ourselves and others. We hope you will join us in supporting surrogate partner therapy and healing the world with love, one person at a time.