How to Navigate a Long Distance Relationship

Welcome to episode 58 of the Sexology Podcast, my guest today is Dana Nelson who is an American psychologist and counselor living and practicing in Lyon, France (Rhône-Alpes region). In this episode Dana talks about the common challenges long distance relationships place on sexual relations, establishing and understanding boundaries and using technology to stay sexual in a long-distance relationship.

Dana works with English-speaking adults and adolescents, providing individual counseling and psychotherapy, couples and relationship counseling, and group therapy.

 She specializes in working with expats, international students, and others living abroad (both adults and adolescents) who are struggling with emotional and psychological difficulties and who want to develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion, feel more grounded, and develop more meaningful and satisfying connections with those around them. She also specializes in working with intercultural couples and couples whose relationships have been impacted by their life abroad.

 An expat herself, she moved to Lyon from Pennsylvania in 2014 to join her French partner. Before they met in graduate school, she never dreamed of moving to France — but now here she is, on an international adventure!

 Dana's specialization in working with expats and intercultural couples has emerged from her own life experience. Still navigating her own expat journey every day, she knows that life abroad is full of both adventures and many (many!) challenges. However, she also believes that this experience of living abroad — which takes us out of our element and calls into question many things we have taken for granted about ourselves and the world — can provide us with truly unique opportunities to learn about ourselves and to grow both as individuals and in our relationships. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Dana’s answers to a listener’s email on remaining sexual in a long-distance relationship
• The common challenges long distance relationships place on sexual relations
• Learning to be mindful of your partners life in a different country and scheduling time
• Developing trust in a long-distance relationship
• Knowing what you want from the relationship
• Establishing and understanding boundaries
• The importance of fine tuning better communication
• Using technology to stay sexual in a long-distance relationship
• Dana’s personal recommendations to overcoming the obstacles of a long-distance relationship

Resources

http://www.dananelsoncounseling.com/mindful-expat-podcast/

http://www.sexologypodcast.com/2017/07/18/sex-and-intercultural-relationships-ft-dr-dana-nelson/