Post-Holiday Relationship Rejuvenation with Dianna Palimere
While the holidays may be a time of connecting with family and friends, it can also be a time of stress and disconnection for couples. Whether that is due to running around for gift shopping, preparing the home for out-of-town guests, putting up decorations, or all of the above—after the holidays couples may find themselves feeling too exhausted to plan a romantic date night (or date weekend) for some high quality time alone together. I recommend planning a getaway together, before the stress of the holidays hits—although it’s never too late! Planning a long weekend away together may be just the thing your relationship needs to reignite some of the passion and romance lost during the naturally-occurring stress of the holidays. For couples who have had ongoing issues or concerns due to problems with trust, intimacy, or communication; or just need help building better relationship skills, I’d recommend booking a weekend at an intimacy retreat. Intimacy retreats differ from generic retreats in their focus on helping couples overcome whatever has become a barrier to intimacy for them. Reputable retreats are run by licensed clinicians and there is no intimate/physical contact between the therapist(s) and the participants. Most intimacy retreats begin with identifying areas of focus for the couple and teaching some basic skills on the first day. Subsequent days focus on deeper issues, including loving touch and ultimately helping couples improve or enhance their sexual connection. Below are a few examples of intimacy retreats that are run by well-known, highly educated, sexuality experts. Couples Therapy Inc., offers locations worldwide which offer intensive sexuality counseling retreats & online marriage counseling. Not only do they have retreats near most major cities, they also have therapists who will travel to you, if you’d prefer more individual, personalized treatment. However, given the benefits of leaving your everyday lives and getting away together, I would recommend finding a retreat. They claim that their retreats “equal almost 6 months of conventional therapy” (couplestherapyinc.com). Another option would be an intimacy retreat run by the sexologist power couple, Diane and Richard Daffner, authors of “Tantric Sex for Busy Couples;” located in Sarasota, FL. Their retreats focus on teaching relationship skills, communication skills, helping couples learn loving touch and various tantric practices. They also teach “Tantric Thai Chi “a relationship exercise that blends the Tai Chi movement and internal 14
focus with tantric sexual energy, creating a strong intimate and emotional connection with one’s beloved partner” (intimacyretreats.com). For couples who are able to travel a bit further, I would highly recommend the following resources for intimacy retreats: Intimacy moons, is “the premier luxury couples retreat where you and your loved one can escape to enhance your sacred connection, communication and understanding of each other” (intimacymoons.com). They are located in Barbados. Passion and presence retreats provide “tools to revitalize your sex life and create a loving, pleasurable, and deeply connected erotic relationship” (passionandpresence.com). They have locations in Austin, TX; Boulder, CO, and Portland, OR. I hope you all have a holiday season that is filled with laughter and love— and a post-season that is filled with deeper connection and renewed passions! Happy Holidays!
Sexual Health and Healing with Dianna Palimere, PhD, LCSW Dr. Dianna Palimere is a Psychosexual Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been working in the field of mental health for the past 16 years, dedicating the past 13 years to specializing in clinical sexuality. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology, a Masters degree in Social Work, a Masters degree in Human Sexuality Education, and a PhD in Clinical Human Sexuality. Utilizing a holistic approach to therapy, she incorporates a variety of clinical interventions in her work with individuals, couples, and families. She is devoted to helping people achieve sexual health and healing through her work as a psychotherapist in her private practice in Pike Creek, DE; as well as in her work with local nonprofit organizations. To learn more about her or to schedule an appointment, visit her website: www.SexTherapyInDelaware.com Join her on Facebook, keywords: Sex Therapy in Delaware.
www.livingwellmagazine.net
December 2018