Sex Educator Profiles: Spike Babaian
By Dr. Charlie Glickman • Nov 10th, 2009 • Category: Blog
What led you to become a Sex Educator?
I have always been fascinated with sex. Is there anyone who isn’t? I knew that I did not want to spend my life doing something that I hated, so I found something I loved and decided to make a career of studying and teaching about it.
How did you start giving sex advice?
When I was five, my best friend asked me if I ever touched “down there”. I told her that of course I had and I had “invented this really cool thing”. I thought I was the first person to ever have an orgasm and it was my job to teach everyone else about it and how to do it. So now I do!
Where did you get your education in sexuality?
I got my undergraduate degree from Hunter College and my Masters degree in general psychology at Adelphi University. During those programs I took as many courses as possible on sexuality, gender and sexual diversity. I then took a certification program with AACS (American Academy of Clinical Sexologists). I completed their certification program and maintain current knowledge of the field by pursuing continuing education credits every year through workshops and conferences.
What do you love about giving sex advice?
Knowing that someone felt comfortable enough to ask me a personal question and hoping that they got enough out of the answer to improve their sex life significantly.
What is your most common question?
Is_______ normal?
And the answer is always the same…
If you enjoy it and it does not hurt you, your partner(s) or anyone else… then yes… it is.
What is the most difficult or hard-to-answer question you’ve ever received?
If I have HPV and I am about to enter into a polygamous marriage, is it my responsibility to inform my husbands other wife if he has not done so?
The answer is not hard…. it is just hard to explain that it is necessary to share that information and the best way to go about it without causing conflict in the marriage.
What is your favorite sex toy and why?
Simple multispeed vibrating eggs are very versatile for males and females and I find to be non threatening to males as a first toy for couples use.
Where do you teach? If you travel, what is it like? Where was your favorite place to teach? Most unusual panel or experience?
I teach at a college in New York. There are 4 campuses and I find great variation when teaching at each of them. I find that the younger students in the poorer socioeconomic locations benefit most from some of the introductory information…. but that every student… even the ones who “know it all” learn something every semester.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about sex?
“Men who are not immediately aroused by a woman are gay.”
Where can people find out more about you?
Dr. Charlie Glickman >> Dr. Charlie Glickman has been working at Good Vibrations since 1996, when he joined the staff at our Berkeley store. Currently, he is our Education Program Manager and (among other things) runs our in-store After Hours workshop program, our Off-Site Sex Education Program, trains our Sex Educator-Sales Associates and writes copy for our website. In 2005, Charlie received his doctorate in Adult Sexuality Education from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, he offers classes on sexuality for psychotherapists and workshops on teaching for sex educators.
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