By Fernanda Formel, LMFT

Do you feel as if you’re struggling with the current events in the United States? Are you feeling rage, frustration, or fear as the discussion and debate of reproductive rights and sex education continues?

You are not alone!

Many others are feeling the exact same way. If you are at a loss as to what to do with your emotions, or if you want to take actionable steps to create positive change for yourself and others, we have good news.

Therapy for Women’s sex therapists, Melanie and I, have come together to provide an educational workshop about sex education, reproductive rights, and advocacy. It will focus on helping you obtain a deeper understanding of what is happening in politics right now, local candidates, and candidates’ stances on issues, in addition to knowledge about your own body and health, and ways in which you can get involved and channel the emotions you are feeling into action.

Sex education can cover a variety of topics such as abortion, sexual health, birth control, STIs, menstruation, genital health, and consent. In the United States, we are often not given enough information from the adults in our lives as we develop from children to adults. Depending on the environment you personally grew up in, you may have been told myths or false information that has been passed down through the generations. These myths can cause shame, confusion, and even health risks. Feelings such as shame and guilt can prevent individuals from asking questions and getting the most helpful information for their bodies. We want to create a safe space to ask questions and learn.

Advocacy is also something that many of us were not taught. You may not have been taught to ask questions, get a second opinion, or voice what is right for you. Advocacy is more than becoming an advocate and activist; it is strengthening and sharing your voice for what you believe is right in the smallest and largest of settings. Finding strength and volume in your voice can be difficult in a world with many voices that feel bigger and more powerful than your own. We want to help you get there.

We hope that, after this workshop, you will walk away with a better understanding of your body, your choices, and how to advocate for yourself and others in a variety of settings such as relationships, healthcare, and politics. It will be a safe space to ask questions, to voice your hurt or anger without fear of judgment, and to discover new or clearer ways to get involved with the changes happening in the United States.

We are in this together and you are not alone. We you hope you’ll join us.