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As a member of this Council, Dr. Torrisi is responsible for assisting in promoting programs to fulfill YSC’s mission & strategic plans, supporting the assessment of YSC’s programs to strengthen their individual and overall impact, fostering new ideas and encouraging creativity, serving as a trusted advisor and complement the work of YSC’s governing Board of Directors, working collaboratively with the Mission Delivery Team leadership to develop long-range planning and bolster the department’s ability to achieve their goals, and acting as an ambassador for YSC, its mission, volunteers and constituents.

The post Dr. Torrisi and the Young Survival Coalition appeared first on Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy (LIIST).

Now that you’ve taken the survey, I would like to thank the following people and organizations that have supported the advertising of this study.

First and foremost: HankyPanky.com has graciously provided each and every participant who completes the study with a $20 Coupon Voucher! (see why you should go take the survey?)

– AARP Maine

– Barnard College Club of Long Island

– Bisexual Resource Center– their feedback will help better inform the language of the articles published from this study.

– Breast Cancer Awareness- Positive Promotions– Looking for some breast cancer awareness swag? Head on over to Positive Promotions!

– BUILD OUR CENTER in Reno, NV

– Cancer Fight Club– Aside from the super rad name, Cancer Fight Club supports young adults (mostly in Canada, but in the US as well) kick ass!

– The DC Center for the LGBT Commnunity 

– DC Coalition of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Men and Women

– Debbie Bazarsky

– Donna Oriowo

– Golden Threads

– Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective

– Heather Marcelle

– HSED Dissertation Group

– HSEDSO

– Jane Fleishman 

– Jennifer Toadvine

– Lacuna Loft is a non-profit dedicated to encouraging, empowering, and connecting young adults with cancer and chronic illness in order to help them overcome their circumstances and thrive!

– Lesbian and Queer Women’s Book and Film Club of Philadelphia

– The Lesbian Cancer Initiative at The Center in NYC which provides a range of programs, services and counseling to help our LBGT communities protect and preserve their health. Want to quit smoking? Have questions about insurance enrollment? From wellness and mental health support to coping with substance use or living with HIV and AIDS, The Center is here to help.

– LGBT Committee of the NASW NYC

– LGBT HealthLink

– LGBTQ Research and Researchers in Higher Education and Student Affairs

– Lisa Meyers

– Living Beyond Breast Cancer

– Living In The Light – Wellness Group

– Maria Aghazarian-Kyriakopoulos

– Maria Brown

– Mary Ray Bloodsworth

– Melanie Davis

– Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center

– Metro New York District Unitarian Universalist Young Adults

– Mombian, is a lifestyle site for lesbian moms and other LGBTQ parents, offering a mix of parenting, politics, diversions, and resources for all our varied roles. Mombian provides news about LGBTQ families, parenting tips, reviews of books and media for parents and children, and political and legal news and commentary from the perspective of a lesbian mom.

– The National LGBT Cancer Network, a tireless advocate network for improving LGBT health, was among the first organizations to support this survey! Liz Margolies has made it her life’s mission to expose the deep-rooted socio-political structures that heavily negatively impact LGBT health and to increase the medical and political competency around LGBTs and Cancer.

– New Haven Price Center in CT

– Oncofertility Consortium addresses the complex health care and quality-of-life issues that concern young cancer patients whose fertility may be threatened by their disease or its treatment. You can call them at 866-708-FERT to connect with a Patient Navigator.

– Outlinc– making Lincoln, NE, a better place to live, work and play for LGBT folks and our allies!

– Out With Cancer

– Phillesbian

– Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce

– Rachel Klechevsky

– The Sam Fund provides relief and support to young adult cancer survivors who are struggling financially. Through direct financial assistance and free online support and education, The Sam Fund helps young adults survive and move forward with their lives after cancer!

– Sexuality and Aging Consortium

– Sexuality Professionals of Philadelphia

– Shanna Dusablon-Drone

– Sharsheret–  a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer.

– Shelby Boyl

– Stupid Cancer

– Sy’s Fund

– The Annie Appleseed Project

– The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York, NY

– The SSSS Student and Early Professionals Group!

– Treatmint Box

– UUCSR Hoodlums

– Victoria Panna

– Well-Woman Alums

– Widener CHSS Program

– Widener/Penn Human Sexuality Alumni Association

– Women’s Cancer Resource Center

– Young Adult Cancer Connection

– Young Adult Cancer Survivors of Smith Center

– Young Survival Coalition

The post Super Support for Lesbian Breast Cancer Survey appeared first on Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy (LIIST).

CLICK HERE

If you or anyone you know identifies as a member of the lesbian community and/or as a breast cancer survivor, please take this survey.

https://cumc.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5chCGgUo1595nNz

Both lesbian women without a breast cancer history and lesbian survivors of breast cancer can participate.

“Woman” and “Lesbian” are broadly defined!

Every participant who completes the study will receive a $20 Coupon Voucher for use at HankyPanky.com!

A very special Thank you!! to all of the outstanding organizations and people who have helped advertise this study!

The post Lesbian Breast Cancer Survey appeared first on Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy (LIIST).

Question: What types of clients do you work with most often?

Answer: Interestingly, for the whole time I’ve been in practice, half of my clients are couples and half of them are individuals. About half identify as female and half identify as male, with trans men and trans women included. Many of my clients are exploring gender identity as well as sexual orientation. The majority of the couples I’m working with fall in to three general categories: couples 55+ who have decided to call it quits on their dull or nonexistent sex lives, couples who are around the time of having their first children and are experiencing new sexual difficulties, and couples who are struggling together through a chronic illness such as Multiple Sclerosis or Breast Cancer and are seeking to maintain their intimate connections. The majority of individuals I work with are struggling with low sexual desire, sexual pain, sexual compulsivity, and erectile dysfunction.

Question: What’s your favorite type of client?

Answer: I honestly enjoy working with all of my clients. As a therapist in private practice, I have the ability to work with a vast array of clients on many different issues, so I never get bored. As a social worker, one of my favorite therapeutic skills is integrating health care services for my clients, so I happily spend the extra time working with clients who require the coordination with other professionals such as gynecologists, oncologists, acupuncturists, physical therapists, pelvic physical therapists, urologists, nutritionists, health coaches, primary physicians, couples therapists, individual therapists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, attorneys, etc. (pointer: my Long Island favorites in their respective fields can be found on my website).

Question: Why do some people like to be hurt during sex?

Answer: If you think of sex as the adult version of the playground, then you can start to see that sex can be fun, it can be freeing, it can be bonding, and it can be playful. Within the realm of a playground, anything is allowed to happen so long as it is safe, sane and consensual. If someone wants to be the alligator in the moat while others are knights attempting to break in to the castle, then go for it! Play is how we learn the boundaries of ourselves and each other, it is where we can transcend into other realms in a safe way. There are tremendous avenues for both physical and emotional pain that isn’t safe, sane or consensual which is why communication is essential. As a sex therapist, I am always assisting clients in enhancing their communication of their thoughts, feelings, wants and needs in order to improve both their physical and emotional intimacy.

Question: If I’m being intimate with someone and I’m okay with what’s happening and then we keep going and I don’t want to go anymore, am I allowed to say no?

Answer: Absolutely, positively, without a doubt—Yes! No, for real, means NO! This latest post using the example of tea explains it all—to the T.

Question: If a girl has sex with more than 5 people, does that make her a slut?

Answer: As a professor in my PhD program at Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies has said, a slut is someone who has sex with one more person than the person doing the judging. No one is a slut. If you find empowerment in using the word slut to define your sexuality, then use it. If you aren’t fond of the word slut, then don’t ever allow someone’s ill-understood words to tarnish your self-worth! Your sexuality is yours—as is your sexual pleasure.

The post Q&A at Jericho High School appeared first on Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy (LIIST).

For more information, take a look at these books:

• “The Lovin’ Ain’t Over for Women with Cancer” by Barbara and Ralph Alterowitz
• “Woman Cancer Sex” by Anne Katz
• “I Am Not My Breast Cancer” by Ruth Peltason

Also, consider these Web sites:

• Living Beyond Breast Cancer www.theraquick.com/
• A Woman’s Touch www.a-womans-touch.com/
• American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/

The post Holding On To Your Sexuality With Breast Cancer Treatment appeared first on Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy (LIIST).

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