The Women’s
Professional Health Network is proud to introduce Jennifer Wiessner, LCSW,
CST a Certified Sex Therapist, Sexual
Wellness Consultant, Educator, and Entrepreneur dedicated to promoting healthy,
shame-free conversations about sexuality. As Maine’s only female
AASECT-certified Sex Therapist in 2012, she paved the way for a growing network
of professionals in her state. In 2023, Jennifer was honored with the Maine
Family Planning Significant Contributor to Sexuality Education award for
her continued advocacy and education.
Jennifer’s mission is to reduce
shame around sexual health and empower individuals, families, and providers
through compassionate, accessible education. She specializes in sex therapy for
all orientations, sexual medicine issues, and later adolescent care, alongside
offering one-time, non-therapy consultations across the U.S.
Passionate about community impact, Jennifer created Raising Sexually Healthy Children, workshops for parents, educators, and providers, and co-founded Girls on Fire, an annual empowerment event for young women. She regularly educates medical and mental health providers, medical students, school and camp staff on integrating sexual health into holistic care.
Jennifer
offers virtual, in-home, and office-based consultations and workshops,
believing that through open, informed conversations, we can replace shame with
celebration — one person, one family, one community at a time.
FROM THE SOURCE:
Jennifer Wiessner, Sexual Wellness Consultant
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| From Maine Magazine/Photo: Myriam Babin |
I have been called to the deeply resonant work of sexuality for 15 years as a licensed clinical social worker and an AASECT certified sex therapist and sexual health consultant. I believed many years ago when I had small children that if I could help parents of young children communicate about bodies, boundaries, healthy touch, sexuality, pleasure, consent, I could change the world because then an entire generation of children would grow up with less shame, more knowledge and pride in their bodies. I continue that work today alongside my couples and sex therapy practice, my sexual health consultations, lecturing and raising sexually healthy children workshops. Yes, I know I do many things, but it's because sexuality has an intersectional thread in every aspect of our humanity. My passion about sexuality and sexual health is like breathing for me because it's so integral to all of us and yet so suppressed and misunderstood, especially for female bodied people, causing women to relinquish precious energy and self-love.
Our sexuality intersects with every aspect of our wellbeing, and yet has been overlooked by our culture, our care professionals, and even ourselves. Most people don't know that talking about sexuality with others, particularly our friends, can help us better understand sexual norms, like even knowing if we're treated well in a relationship, how do we know if we don't talk about it? Also, talking about sexuality with close friends can create more solid relationships and allies. If we talk about sexuality, there is likely little else we can't discuss and then we know who our support network is. It can also make it easier to talk to medical providers who often don't have the comfort or skillset to do so. Sadly, most of us don't like to talk about sexuality, especially if we feel like something has changed in it. Think perimenopause or menopause. As care providers, we need to have courage to change this for ourselves, for our patients and all the young women that come after us.
The reality is we are always changing and are always in transition, and as women, it is difficult to get accurate, actionable information on what is happening to our bodies and hormones from basically age 35 plus. My work in sexual health is multidimensional and includes providing emotional and functional support to patients alongside medical providers. I help adults, particularly women, to better understand their bodies, work through oppressive early messaging, trauma, bodily dysfunction issues, pain, arousal issues, struggles with intimacy and health conditions that impact intimacy with themselves and partners. What is important is that we get informed, have resources for our patients, and collaborate with providers who are skilled in sexuality and the female experience.
The lack of sexual education and
body-positive role models weighs heavily on our psyche and dampens our
sexual energy. The more we talk about it, the more we bring our
sexuality and sexual health out of the oppressive shadows into the light
of our everyday experience where it belongs. It is our birthright and a
foundational aspect of our humanity. Two quotes I enjoy are: “Your body is not your art, it's your paintbrush" By Glennon Doyle and from Gloria Steinem: “Each individual woman's body demands to be accepted on its own terms."
My work is to help each person, each woman, to realize the full and
expansive breath of their sexuality on their own terms without shame as a
backdrop. It's important to note that sexual shame or shame of any kind, is not our natural state.
It is not in our nature to feel ashamed of who we are as human beings. We are not born ashamed of ourselves. Shame of all kinds is learned and can severely limit us. Some have even called shame our biggest cultural of fear. Shame is like pine pitch; no matter how many times you wash your hands, it's still feels sticky. Sex therapy can help with the self-discovery and healing from the negative effects of shame can lead to a more fulfilling and authentic relationship with sexuality.
Our pleasure is our gift and to be celebrated. It is a life force that is powerful, and when harnessed, we connect to a deep sense of ourselves, our personal power, and can access greater health and creativity in our lives and in our work. My work and my passion is to help all people, particularly women, awaken this energy, connect to themselves, their work, creative endeavors and relationships, all increasing wellbeing. The ultimate goal for us is to support children and young women from the schoolroom, to the boardroom, to the bedroom. Anything less is faux-powerment. As medical and mental health providers, we can dismantle sexual shame, connect to the joy of our bodies, and create a world where every woman, from the womb through menopause and beyond, has access to the resources, support, and empowerment she needs to thrive.
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Contact: https://jenniferwiessnerhealthysexuality.com/
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