xxTAKES - Our July Update
Welcome to xxTAKES, the official newsletter of xxTALK!
We want to keep you in the loop with everything we are working on at xxTALK, and what’s been on our mind. Expect lots of content related to getting in touch with your body, your sexuality, your partner(s) - and everything in between. We are striving to build the most inclusive community possible for womxn all over the world, so write to us if there’s something you would like to see covered or how we can represent your voice. We are learning everyday, and we’d love to learn from you.
For this update, we want to send a recap of what we have been up to in July:
1) talkshop is launching!
xxTALK’s flagship program is talkshop, a structured 4-week group workshop to connect women with their sexuality to build more fulfilling relationships with their partners and themselves. These online support groups will be led by professional sex therapists and coaches and will be complemented with a private online community to openly discuss relationships, sex, and everything in between, with real-time advice and support. Listen to our co-Founder and CEO Haerin Lee:
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up to our pilot session in September, and complete the questionnaire that was sent to you via email. Check your spam box if you haven't received an email yet from hi@xxtalk.co
2) From the xxTALK blog: “Three reasons women struggle to find their orgasm“
One of the experts on our team, Keeley Rankin, wrote the below article on why it’s so tough for women to reach orgasm and ways to connect to that moment:
Imagine you are hiking up a mountain. The trail is great - a bit of a workout but enjoyable. You feel energized, engaged, relaxed and overall good about your walk. But, you notice that as you get closer to the top, you seem to be going around and around - instead of up to the top.
This is how most folks who struggle to find their orgasm feel. The start to head up the arousal curve (the imaginary curve from 1 - 10 | 1 = a little aroused, 9 being the point of no return, 10 = orgasm) and you plateau around a 7 or an 8. You try to feel that sudden shift in sensation pushing you to the 9 and then the glorious 10, but for some reason you get stuck. And in the worst case scenario you start heading back down the curve, distracted, disconnected and disheartened.
In this article, I am going to give you the three main reasons women struggle to find their orgasm…
Read the full article here: https://www.xxtalk.co/blog
3) Our expert network is growing!
We are very fortunate to be working with incredible professionals in the sex therapy and coaching field. Here are some of the members of the extended xxTALK team:
Hi! I'm Aline - I am a psychologist, couple and individual therapist, trainer and speaker, and the author of three commercially published and well respected books about sexuality and relationships. I'm known for several of my ideas, many of which I plan to share here. One of the most useful techniques I came up with is SexSmart BodyMaps. I am the creator of the interpersonal theory of sexual development, The Milestones of Sexual Development. I want to make women aware of the "non-sexual" things in their family of origin which actually constitute a kind of sexual trauma. I call these things Developmental Sexual Trauma.
Hi! I am Keeley - a San Francisco based Sex and Relationship Coach. I call myself a pleasure advocate and I deeply care about helping folks connect to their erotic bodies. I have my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and have various trainings in somatic and mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic modalities.
Hi! I'm Shelby - a certified Sex & Intimacy Coach, trained in the Somatic Method. I facilitate a safe environment for individuals and couples to deepen their knowledge of their own desires, nurture their capacity for connection, and build practical relational skills. Within my practice, I provide comprehensive sexual education ranging from anatomy and body mechanics, to fantasy exploration and vulnerable communication.
What else we have been obsessed with
Like everyone else, Beyoncé’s Black is King has been at the forefront of our mindspace. Beyoncé consistently impresses us with how deliberate she is with her work, and her latest magnum opus is a beautiful tribute to Africa, Black history and identity, family, the sacred feminine - in addition to being the most lush visual and musical treat. This Twitter thread on all the embedded historical and cultural references show the extent of the richness of the material. Check out the film and let us know what you think!
As always, you can write to us at hi@xxtalk.co with any comments, suggestions or questions on the newsletter or what’s on your mind. We wish you a peaceful start to August!
With love,
The xxTALK team