The Trouble with Sex

Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, award-winning social psychologist and TED speaker, shows how to design lasting love. She contrasts fleeting sexual chemistry with renewable attraction. She talks boundaries, curiosity across generations, tech and AI’s impact on intimacy, and practical habits to keep attraction alive.

Dr. Tammy talks with Dr. Arielle Schwartz about Resilience Informed Therapy, Polyvagal Theory and how connecting to your body can rewire your nervous system to help heal from trauma and deeper connection with ourselves and those we love.GUEST BIORenowned speaker, author, and esteemed clinical psychologist, Dr. Arielle Schwartz has been widely recognized for her research and clinical advancements in trauma treatment, which have shaped the landscape of trauma recovery and elevated the standard of care all across therapeutic settings. Dr. Schwartz promotes a strength-based, embodied approach to trauma recovery that emphasizes self-driven healing to facilitate post-traumatic growth. Drawing on the principles of EMDR, somatic psychology, mindfulness-based therapies, and relational psychotherapy, she developed Resilience Informed Therapy—an integrative model of care for facilitating recovery from childhood trauma, PTSD, complex-PTSD and Dissociation. Dr. Schwartz has been teaching therapeutic yoga since 2008, and she is the author of Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery, a widely referenced guide to applied Polyvagal Theory for trauma recovery. She has also authored numerous books covering extensive research and guiding techniques in trauma treatment.DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Dr. Tammy talks with relationship therapist, podcaster, and author Rick Miller, about how men communicate, what masculinity means for both queer and straight men,  and why open relationships are an old school concept - if not the norm in the gay world.OUR GUESTRick Miller is a practicing psychotherapist and founder and executive director of Gay Sons And Mothers. Rick co-hosts of the podcast Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You. His TEDx talk, The Mother Factor, grew out of his work with his nonprofit, which shares worldwide narratives of gay men and their mothers to support LGBTQ+ training and awareness. Rick is also the executive producer of the documentary film, “Mom, I Have Something to Tell You”. He is a frequent speaker at conferences for a myriad of academic and professional organizations and author of three books. He writes a regular column for Psychology Today. FREE OFFER! Want to re-ignite your sex life? Start your Erotic Recovery with Dr. Tammy's Six Weeks to Erotic Recovery for Singles e-book.  Email drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com, and we will send you your free e-book!DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Dr. Tammy talks with Dr. Kate Truitt about her healing journey after a devastating car accident. Together, they explore fear, intimacy, expectations, and how gentle touch can help create a safe space while igniting connection and intimacy with your partner after a traumatic experience.OUR GUESTDr. Kate Truitt is an esteemed clinical psychologist and neuroscientist - globally recognized for her trauma, stress, and resilience expertise. As founder of the Truitt Institute, Dr. Truitt integrates cutting-edge neuroscience into mental health training and seminars. She also leads Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates and serves as CEO of both the Amy Research Foundation and the Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. An essential part of the Goldie Hawn Foundation’s MindUP Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Truitt passionately advocates for mental health literacy and empowerment.As the international bestselling author of Healing in Your Hands and Keep Breathing, Dr. Truitt is dedicated to advancing the treatment of trauma and stress disorders, making significant strides in destigmatizing mental health and fostering resilience worldwide.FREE OFFER! Want to re-ignite your sex life? Start your Erotic Recovery with Dr. Tammy's Six Weeks to Erotic Recovery for Singles e-book.  Email drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com, and we will send you your free e-book!DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Dr. Nazanin Moali, a clinical psychologist and sex expert who hosts the Sexology Podcast, joins to explore the intricate relationship between stress, trauma, and desire. They discuss how chronic stress can block sexual responses, the importance of differentiating arousal from desire, and the transformative power of mindful intimacy. Nazanin shares insights on navigating parenthood's challenges, as well as practical tips for rekindling passion through low-pressure erotic sessions and celebratory rituals to reconnect with one's sensual self.

Dr. Tammy shares the trauma of her recent assault with the leading expert on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Resource Tapping, Dr. Laurel Parnell. Together they explore how these therapies can rewire the brain to help heal trauma, restore balance and improve relationships.OUR GUESTLaurel Parnell, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and Executive Director of the Parnell Institute and co-director of the non-profit Trauma Assistance Program International (TAP-IN). One of the world’s leading experts on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), she is the originator of the EMDR-related therapies Attachment-Focused EMDR and Resource Tapping. Since 1995 she has trained thousands of clinicians in EMDR both nationally and internationally. Dr. Parnell is the author of several books and demonstration videos on EMDR, including, Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma, (W.W. Norton, 2013), A Therapist’s Guide to EMDR (W.W. Norton, 2007),  Rewiring the Addicted Brain with EMDR-Based Treatment (W.W. Norton, 2020), and Tapping In (Sounds True. 2008). Dr. Parnell has served on the faculty of the California Institute for Integral Studies and John F. Kennedy University. Considered a master clinician, Dr. Parnell brings a client-centered attachment-focused approach to the work and emphasizes the importance of a compassionate, safe, therapeutic relationship. She sees the adaptation of protocols and procedures according to the psychological, emotional, cultural, and developmental needs of the individual client as essential. Dr. Parnell is informed by research in contemporary neuroscience and uses a holistic approach to healing trauma that focuses on the integration of body, mind, and spirit. DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Dr. Tammy has a deeply personal conversation with psychologist and sex therapist Dr. Andreya Jones who shares her story of growing up in a cult-like religious community shaped by Christian purity culture — a movement that’s left lasting impressions on how many women understand their bodies, sexuality, and sense of self.  Andreya offers insight, hope, and a path forward for anyone who’s been burdened by shame and is ready to reclaim their pleasure, their power, and redefine their life.OUR GUESTDr. Andreya Jones grew up in Papua New Guinea and Senegal, West Africa. She began her career in psychology as a case manager who worked with sexually abused children. After obtaining her master's degree in social work, she worked with troubled teens and their families, before entering the world of private practice. Andreya has a doctorate in clinical sexology, is a licensed clinical social worker, and is an AASECT certified sex therapist, who owns a private practice in Pennsylvania. Andreya is also the author of Deconstructing Purity Culture To Embrace Sexual Pleasure.  Her book addresses how women from controlled religious communities often report difficulty with religious sexual shame and how its teachings have affected the sexuality and pleasure of generations of women sexual desire, pain during sex, and sexual dysfunction. “Deconstructing Purity Culture” provides guidance and tools needed to identify and evaluate the messages women received about sex, pleasure, and their roles as women so they can decide which beliefs they would like to preserve and which they would like to change or discard as they move forward in their lives.DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Join Dr. Tammy as she talks with LA based Dominatrix, Ashley Randall, aka Irreverent Femme, about the therapeutic benefits of erotic exploration, and how she uses BDSM, kink and fantasy to help her clients overcome shame, face their fears, and build greater trust, intimacy and pleasure into their relationships.OUR GUESTAshley Randall, aka Irreverent Femme, is an LA based, certified Sex, Intimacy and Kink Coach and Dominatrix based in Los Angeles, offering transformative coaching for individuals and partners seeking deeper intimacy, sexual confidence, and authentic connection. Through her practice, Irreverent Love, she helps clients through embracing parts of themselves often considered taboo—creating space where they feel seen, accepted, and sexy. Her work removes shame and stigma, particularly around BDSM, kink, and non-traditional relationship structures, empowering people to lead richer lives, relationships, and sex. She offers experiential coaching that guides individuals and partners through the emotional and practical terrain of emotional and sexual intimacy and also utilizes therapeutic BDSM. Ashley’s approach is deeply personal and focused on connection, allowing clients to explore safely and confidently.DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com.INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered. THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOIF YOU'RE CONSIDERING OPENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP, CHECK OUT DR. TAMMY'S BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.Learn more about love, marriage, infidelity, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson

Mary Kay Cocharo, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Evie Shafner, an experienced clinical psychologist, dive into the dynamics of relationships. They discuss how anxiety and trauma can disrupt intimacy and suggest practical tools like intentional care for the 'space between' partners to nurture connection. The duo highlights the challenges younger generations face with communication and intimacy in a tech-saturated world, and they offer creative ways to enhance date nights and revitalize passion in relationships.

HAPPY END of SUMMER!  We'll be back in September with all new episodes. In the meantime, please enjoy Dr. Tammy's introduction to Open Monogamy, and continue to explore what's important to you and those you choose to love. The idea of monogamy and marriage  are no longer simple concepts. Can you have a loving, trusting relationship while exploring new direction as a couple? In this episode,  Dr. Tammy introduces the concept of Open Monogamy by answering listener questions and talking with a couple first-hand about what open monogamy means to them and how they successfully began redefining  their traditional relationship over ten years ago!DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to drtammy@thetroublewithsex.com. INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED AS A SEX THERAPIST?Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to receive your AASECT Sex Therapist Certification. Or, elevate your practice in relational psychotherapy by earning the new Certified Sex and Couples Therapist designation (CSCT).​ AASECT and CSCT renewal and re-certification classes are also offered.THE TROUBLE WITH SEX RESOURCES, REFERENCES & INFOCHECK OUT DR. T'S NEW BOOK - OPEN MONOGAMY!· To read more about how to improve your sex life, check out Dr. Tammy's Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together.· Learn more about love, marriage, monogamy and how to redefine your commitment to each other in Dr. Tammy's TEDX talk - The New Monogamy - or her book by the same name. ·  Want more Dr. Tammy?  Read: The New Monogamy, When You're the One Who Cheats.Instagram @thetroublewithsex and doctor_tammynelson