Sex Educator Profiles: Catherine Gross
By Dr. Charlie Glickman • Jan 29th, 2010 • Category: Blog
What led you to become a sex educator?
I understood that an expansive sense of self comes from exploring and accepting who you are as a sexual being. Sexual discovery has allowed many people to live with an ease and comfort in who they are which may allow them to be the envy of others. Many seek to know who they are with deep understanding as a means to lead productive and confident lives. Sexual exploration is an opportunity to translate measured risk to into healthy physical and emotional benefits. The benefits my clients reap from embracing their sexuality and the joy I experience in offering the tools they need to be deeply satisfied, whole people brings me great satisfaction.
What kinds of sex education do you offer?
I specialize in personal foundations built to support deliberately chosen sexual adventures and relationships. However, I also teach BDSM classes on role play, power based relationships and sexploration.
How did you start giving sex advice?
In the early 80’s groups of friends began to meet in hotel rooms across the country and we’d teach each other what we knew. This translated to teaching for small groups and conferences. I’d also have to say in all fairness that experience is a great teacher.
What do you love about giving sex advice?
I love being able to participate in the intimate endeavors of others. I feel quite blessed to be welcomed into their private worlds and witness their courage first hand. There is something grandly profound when you witness how another person holds themselves deeply vulnerable, opening up to uncharted possibilities and achieve success by their own measure. To be allowed to participate in their creation of fun, laughter, self-awareness, and drop unneeded social beliefs behind them to achieve a feeling of being deeply known and understood allows me to know I make a difference in the world and put good into it.
What is your most common question?
“But what if s/he thinks it’s weird?” I think most people are afraid of being judged harshly and such judgment will ensure their future loneliness. Many people who mentally explore their sexual fantasies worry that they may be the only person who find certain activities provocative. It can be a great relief to discover that you aren’t alone in your fantasies.
What is the most difficult or hard-to-answer question you’ve ever received?
I don’t believe being asked questions is difficult. My job is easy—I think sometimes it’s difficult for my clients to ask.
What was the most interesting thing you learned in your exploration of sex?
That sexuality may mirror other issues one may have. Some people use sexuality for a sense of power, some may use it as an escape hatch, and some many simply demonstrate a great sense of health, openness, adventure and self-surety.
What projects are you working on now?
I have several passionate projects at the moment. I’m deeply in love with producing SouthEast LeatherFest in Atlanta, GA. This will be our 15th anniversary. I plan events I would have fun attending. It’s delicious to host this 3.5 day event. I am also a new board member of CARAS (Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities). I believe in this organization and it’s my privilege to give what talents I may possess to CARAS.
Where can people find out more about you?
www.FORYOURLIFECOACH.com and www.BDSMCLASSES.com
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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