How Being Sex Positive Impacts Mental Health, Body Image, & Relationships
Rebecca Sidoti, LCSW
VR Therapist
OCD & Anxiety Expert
Kristin Justice, LAC
Grief & Loss
Women’s Mental Health
Stress & Adjustments
Caroline Goodhines
Maria Rice
Denise Spivey
The term “sex positive” has been gaining a lot of traction lately, but it’s often misunderstood. People sometimes confuse it with promiscuity or assume it’s only about endorsing sexual freedom. But in reality, sex positivity is a much more nuanced and inclusive philosophy. It’s about embracing an open, non-judgmental view of human sexuality that recognizes everyone’s right to make their own informed choices about their bodies and sexual experiences.
In this post, we’ll dive into the core principles of sex positivity, how it influences mental health, body image, and relationships, and explore its benefits and potential drawbacks.
What Does It Mean to Be Sex Positive?
At its core, sex positivity is an approach to sex and sexuality that emphasizes openness, acceptance, and personal autonomy. It supports the idea that all forms of consensual sexual expression are valid, as long as they are safe and respectful. This mindset rejects sexual shame or guilt and encourages people to explore their desires and preferences in a healthy and informed way.
But let’s be clear: being sex positive doesn’t mean you’re obligated to be sexually active or embrace all types of sexual experiences. It simply promotes the belief that everyone should have the freedom to make choices about their own sexuality without judgment or stigma.
Some key aspects of sex positivity include:
- Consent is key: A sex-positive attitude revolves around the idea that any sexual activity should be consensual, informed, and safe.
- Respect for diversity: This philosophy acknowledges and respects a wide variety of sexual orientations, identities, and practices.
- No shame in exploration: There’s no place for guilt or embarrassment when it comes to consensual sexual expression.
- Education matters: Comprehensive sex education is a cornerstone of sex positivity, as it enables individuals to make informed decisions about their sexual health and boundaries.
How Being Sex Positive Impacts Mental Health
Sex positivity has a significant impact on mental health, and for many people, it’s a liberating approach to their own sexuality. By fostering an environment where sexual expression is not shamed or stigmatized, sex positivity can help people develop healthier relationships with their bodies and their desires. Here’s how it works:
1. Reduced Shame & Anxiety Around Sex
For many, societal pressures or cultural expectations can create a sense of shame around sex, especially for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people from conservative backgrounds. Being sex positive helps break down these barriers, reducing the stigma associated with sexual desires and behavior. When people feel less shame about their sexuality, they’re more likely to experience higher levels of self-acceptance and lower levels of sexual anxiety.
2. Increased Self-Awareness & Confidence
Sex positivity encourages individuals to understand their bodies, desires, and boundaries. This self-awareness often translates into greater self-confidence, both in and outside of the bedroom. Knowing what you want, and feeling comfortable asking for it, can empower people to take charge of their sexual experiences. This sense of autonomy boosts self-esteem and mental well-being.
3. Better Emotional Communication
One of the key principles of sex positivity is open communication, which leads to healthier emotional expression. In a sex-positive relationship, partners feel free to talk openly about their needs, boundaries, and concerns. This reduces the emotional stress that comes from miscommunication or unmet expectations, leading to more emotionally fulfilling connections.
The Link Between Sex Positivity & Body Image
Body image and sexual self-esteem are closely linked, and sex positivity plays a vital role in helping individuals foster a healthy relationship with their bodies. By promoting the idea that all bodies are worthy of love and pleasure, regardless of shape, size, or appearance, sex positivity helps dismantle the unrealistic beauty standards often perpetuated by media and society.
1. Embracing Body Diversity
Sex positivity champions the idea that beauty and desirability come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. By rejecting the narrow standards of what a “sexy” body should look like, people are encouraged to appreciate their own bodies as they are. This helps reduce feelings of inadequacy and promotes a healthier self-image.
2. A Healthier Approach to Sexual Desirability
In a sex-positive environment, the focus isn’t on achieving a “perfect” body to be desirable. Instead, it emphasizes feeling comfortable in your skin and understanding that sexual desirability isn’t tied to physical appearance alone. By focusing more on connection, communication, and mutual satisfaction, sex positivity offers a more holistic view of what makes someone desirable.
How Sex Positivity Affects Relationships
Sex positivity can have a profound impact on romantic and sexual relationships. When both partners adopt a sex-positive mindset, it opens the door for deeper intimacy, better communication, and more mutual respect.
1. Enhanced Communication & Trust
In sex-positive relationships, communication is key. Partners feel free to discuss everything from boundaries and desires to fears and insecurities. This transparency fosters trust and helps build stronger emotional connections. Whether discussing sexual preferences or working through disagreements, open communication nurtures a more trusting and supportive relationship.
2. Less Pressure, More Enjoyment
Sex positivity removes the need for performance-based pressure in relationships. When both partners feel accepted and free to express their desires without judgment, sex becomes more about mutual pleasure than meeting certain expectations. This can reduce anxiety around performance and lead to a more relaxed, enjoyable sexual experience.
3. Respecting Boundaries
Consent and respecting boundaries are cornerstones of sex positivity. In a sex-positive relationship, partners understand that respecting each other’s limits is critical. This helps to create an environment where both people feel safe and valued, improving both sexual and emotional intimacy.
The Pros & Cons of Being Sex Positive
Like any social science or philosophy, sex positivity has its pros and cons. While it offers many benefits, it’s not without challenges. Let’s break them down:
Pros of Sex Positivity:
- Promotes healthy communication: By encouraging open discussions about sex, boundaries, and desires, sex positivity fosters better communication between partners.
- Reduces shame: It creates an environment where people can explore their sexuality without guilt or fear of judgment.
- Encourages diversity and inclusivity: Whether it’s sexual orientation, preferences, or body types, sex positivity embraces all forms of sexual expression.
Cons of Sex Positivity:
- Potential for misunderstanding: Some may misinterpret sex positivity as encouraging promiscuity or disregard for emotional consequences, which isn’t the case.
- Not a one-size-fits-all approach: For individuals with certain cultural or religious beliefs, sex positivity may conflict with personal values.
- Risk of overemphasis on sex: While sex positivity promotes open exploration, it’s important to balance sexual expression with other aspects of relationships like emotional intimacy and commitment.
Final thoughts on Sex Positivity
Being sex positive is about more than just embracing your sexual desires. It’s a holistic mindset that promotes autonomy, respect, and open communication. By reducing shame, enhancing self-awareness, and improving relationship dynamics, sex positivity can have a profound impact on mental health, body image, and emotional well-being.
However, like any approach to sexuality, it’s not without its challenges. The key is finding a balance that works for you—one where you can feel empowered to explore your desires, respect others’ boundaries, and enjoy more fulfilling connections.
Ready to embrace sex positivity? Whether it’s through better communication with your partner or feeling more comfortable in your own skin, our team of therapists are here to help you develop a positive outlook on sex, sexuality, intimacy and authenticity.
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Online therapy is essentially face-to-face counseling, just conducted remotely. Studies show that teletherapy is as effective as traditional counseling. Professional organizations and state governments recognize its benefits and have set regulations for it. However, like any therapy, its success in achieving your goals isn’t guaranteed. It’s important to discuss with your therapist whether teletherapy is working for you.
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Showing up is all that you need to do! But if you really want to get the most out of session, it could help to take some time to think about what you want from therapy. It helps to write down your goals, questions you have or things that you feel are important to share.
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Online therapy might not be as effective for individuals with chronic suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, significant mental health history, or those recently in intensive care. Such cases often benefit more from traditional, in-person counseling. We’ll help you decide if our online services are right for you during your intake and evaluation.
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You should feel like you’re making progress. Signs it’s working include:
Feeling comfortable talking to your therapist
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You feel listened to
You’re doing better in life
Your self-esteem is getting better
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We ask that clients provide at least 24 hours notice in the event that they need to cancel to avoid the 50% cancellation fee. we understand that life happens and do our best to be flexible & reschedule.
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Currently, we serve clients in New Jersey and are expanding to other states as telehealth laws evolve. While telehealth offers the convenience of attending sessions from anywhere, state laws require clients to be in-state during their session.
Is Online Therapy Easy to Use for Non-Tech-Savvy People?
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Feel free to ask anything. Some good questions are:
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Our Qualifications:
Our founder, Rebecca Sidoti, is a highly qualified, state-licensed therapist and supervisor with extensive training in anxiety related disorders and innovative treatment such as Ketamine Therapy. Mind by Design Counseling adheres to standards set by the our governing counseling boards.
To see each providers credentials, training and licenses, visit our “Meet the Therapists” Page to learn more.
- LAC/LSW are therapists who may practice clinical work under the supervision of a fully licensed therapist.
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