As the saying goes, you can have it all just not all at once. Have you ever brought up a complaint to your partner only to be met with their complaint? This is a common relational trap and leaves partners chasing too many conversations at once and feeling more defeated. Join George and Laurie today as they offer guidance on how to slow this pattern down and focus on one conversation at a time. Caregiving needs, emotional needs and sexual needs are all important but we need to stick to one at a time if we ever want to get anywhere. If you've ever found yourself caught in this trap, this episode will help you and your partner stay focused on your individual experience, how to communicate that with vulnerability to your partner and how to listen with empathy and compassion. Staying the course on one topic at a time will help partners have more effective conflict and work to get some of these needs met. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a sample conversation with "Eleanor" who is always anxious about sex, preoccupied with whether or not she is pleasing her husband, but unable to be present for her own experience. She doesn’t want to risk hurting her husband even if it would make the sexual moment better for her. Her husband thinks she's not into it, but hear how she worries and actually thinks about it constantly without ever knowing if her husband is happy with her. We have heard hundreds of similar stories about the disconnects that can happen in sexual relationship. We invite you to consider opening up a discussion with your lover about their experience in sex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are discussing life and relationships after an affair. Most often people think that relationships are over after an affair. However, that is not always the case and many couples can successfully repair their partnerships after this betrayal. Join George and Laurie today as they breakdown affair recovery steps and what the betrayed partner and the partner that had the affair need to heal. We discuss the different types of affairs and the motives of pursuers and withdrawers alike. We want to instill hope for couples that are facing this challenge that relationships can heal and recover from affairs. It takes a lot of deep heart-centered work but couples that have made it to the otherside are often able to write a new chapter in their bond.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why and how does the frequency of sex decrease in a marriage to the point where it rarely happens? Join sex therapist and author Laurie Watson and couples therapist Dr. Adam Mathews as they dissect the genesis of a sexless marriage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are talking about desire based on the work of sex therapist, Dr. Emily Jamea. Dr. Jamea shares that your partner can contribute to your desire but they can't create it. Join Laurie and George in an engaging conversation on who is responsible for the creation of desire in a relationship and how this affects pursuers and withdrawers alike. Their dialogue addresses the effect of how caretaking duties affect sexual desire and how each individual partner can work to create internal eroticism. You'll find yourself asking these questions, "what gives me the tingles?, do I want them or what do I want?, and what would turn me on right now?" Make sure to download this and share with your lover to answer these questions together. Keep it hot, y'all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early dating years our partner’s face lights up at the thought of sex, they tell us with their eyes that we make them hot. The gleam in their eyes hits our body, hits our center, hits our being.  Feeling that we light up their world is a turn-on! Secure attachment begins with the loving gaze of our mother or parent – cradled in the crook of their elbow – they smile and coo because we are theirs.  Later in childhood we know we belong and make our parents proud when we see it in their eyes… not so much for our accomplishments but because we are their son or daughter.  In romantic partnership, sexual desire that radiates from our partner’s face and gaze is a powerful reminder of belonging, safety. We revel in being the person who excites our partner. What happens though when our partner is willing to have sex but doesn’t give us that deep reassurance that we are desirable with a gleam in their eye? Can we get it back? How do we tell them what we need from them to turn on?  Listen as George and Laurie get through to each other about how sexual desire is tied to being the gleam in our partner’s eyes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four? The Beatles addressed this important topic on their Sgt. Pepper album in 1967 and in today's episode Laurie and George are giving listeners the answers. Join us as we answer the burning questions related to sex and older age; what to expect and how to talk about it. Aging is an inevitable fact of life and while often associated with problems, it can actually bring a lot of opportunity for healthy change in your relationship. Desire differences often driven by changes in hormones will have partners seeking new ways to connect, inspiring more creativity and playfulness. Our hosts,guide listeners through the essential conversation to have with your partner and specific questions to ask each other. It's so important that we name aging out loud and put heads and hearts together to navigate this phase of life. Be brave lovers and keep it hot, y'all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mailbag!! George and Laurie answer questions from the Foreplay Fam in this week’s episode! They’re talking all about unrequited fantasies, compromise, and vulnerability. Sexual fantasies are extremely common; in fact only 4% of men and 14% of women report NOT having fantasies. A listener talks about a fantasy of an old lover and not being able to get it out of her head. While this one may be a block to emotional connection, fantasies can also be mined for good information about what turns us on. And some partners feel comfortable and like sharing their sexual fantasies as a way to grow learn and get aroused with each other. Sexual improvement requires vulnerability and willingness to talk about your sexual needs. Discuss with your partner what they are comfortable with and address any of their concerns. Compromise is important in any relationship. While we want people to feel respected sometimes we might do something for tour partner out of love in order to just make our partner happy. It’s all about communicating these things! Listen to this week’s mailbag episode now to hear more of your questions answered! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, our hosts are tackling an important and uncomfortable conversation. This episode does contain content regarding sexual trauma and we advise all our listeners to be aware. Sexual trauma doesn't stay in our past, it follows us in the bedroom. It is common for couples that feel safe and committed to one another to experience heightened reactions around sex if sexual trauma is part of the personal history. However, this can be confusing, frustrating and cause stress on a couple that had no apparent issues prior. Join George and Laurie today as they expertly and carefully, discuss how sexual trauma affects couples and their sexual experiences. They will walk you through the signs of sexual trauma and the 5 steps to heal in your relationship. For both partner's in the relationship, there is a role to take in the healing and our hosts want listeners to feel optimistic that healthy relationships can heal traumatic experiences. Laurie reminds us that the grief around these experiences will end and joy and pleasure await on the other side.  We can't recommend enough that conversations around this topic require loads of safety, compassion and understanding. We thank you for being brave with us today and everyday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laurie tells George her own story of why she became a sex therapist. Hear about her moment of decision when she stopped the negative pursuing cycle and changed her marriage. Laurie shares her heartfelt commitment to be the generation to love and struggle to become securely attached in order to change the course of her family's legacy and how you too, can change your family's future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we discuss what couples want more hot or heart-centered sex. Prompted by conversations about their upcoming book, George and Laurie define and explore these two types of sexual connection, how they are different and how they are alike. Withdrawers may find the concept of hot sex too pressure filled and back away from the idea while pursuers might gravitate to that concept. However, we discuss that hot sex can often be a benefit of connected sex. There is more attunement and less pressure or judgement to perform. The formula might just be connecting the heart with the hot. We want to know what you think! Make sure to leave a review and share this episode with your love.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one comes at you fast! George and Laurie talk through a variety of sex acts that couples choose to liven things up. No judgements just a curious exploration of what might turn a monogamous couple on and why. With lots of laughter, they talk through where to do it, what you might try, how to reduce some anxiety when trying new things - everything from sexual positions to taking control to role play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you've de-escalated your negative cycle and are taking risks to take new moves and bam you get hit with this response: "it's nice to hear you say that, but where has that been for the last 20 years?" Defeat sets in and your protective move is at the ready to defend or withdraw. Why does this happen so often when couples are working together to make healthy changes? Join George and Laurie in today's episode as we discuss how mistrust in healthier relationship patterns is expected and what to do about it. When the brain is so used to something happening one way for an amount of time, it expects and anticipates it. It's all a way to create patterns and predictability which the brain loves. What the brain loves is not always healthy for a relationship. In this episode, we learn how to identify and work with mistrust, create safety around new moves and embrace when we are getting exactly what we've longed for for years. This requires us to tolerate the new move without solely relying on the old pattern, embracing the mistrust and getting success with the new. Has this ever happened in your relationship? Make sure to leave us some feedback on our website, foreplayrst.com or on Instagram (@foreplay_sextherapypodcast). Be brave and keep it hot y'all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premature Ejacualtion -- the number 1 sexual dysfunction for men is easily cured. Author Michael Castleman joins Laurie and gives vital information about the steps to cure PE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are discussing the curious case of couples that are in love but don't feel sexually connected. What happens when couples are in the middle road, doing everyday life together and feel secure but can't tap into their sexual source. Join George and Laurie today as they explore this topic and why some couples are stuck in this rut. Is it avoidance, a form of protection or straight exhaustion that stops the flame from burning? If you find it hard to engage in the chase or maybe avoid sexual connection in your marriage, make sure to listen to this show to uncover some of the deeper themes of protection and avoidance you may be experiencing. Our hosts guide listeners in a conversation on how to address this and strategies to renew the spark in everyday life! Check out this episode's sponsor (and help the pod!): Uberlube.com -- Laurie's all-time favorite personal lubricant! Try it out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Q&A - What happens when you can’t orgasm during intercourse like you used to?  George and Laurie come up with many different ideas about what might be happening and techniques to help our listener. A listener doesn’t think Laurie gets hookup culture and why orgasm isn’t always the focus.  Here’s to a deeper look at what people might be looking for.  Heartbroken over her partner’s rejection due to herpes, we help a listener come to terms with what she needs to do.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do sex and intimacy need security or mystery to ignite the flame? That is the question we are exploring in today's show based on the work of Dr. Barry McCarthy. Join George and Laurie as they get curious exploring the need for security to have sexual novelty or if mystery and anticipation increase desire. Either outcome is going to get your wheels spinning and we hope you invite your partner to a thrilling conversation to cross this bridge. Our hosts remind listeners that sexual creativity and risk will be more successful if there is a designed conversation. It is important to be intentional and make a suggestion to your partner, and be open minded to their feedback. We make a clear distinction between this conversation and one that is pressure filled. From this episode you will take away how to design this conversation, taking in feedback and how to bring up taking new sexual risks together. Keep it hot, y'all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Adam and Laurie delve into the dirty details of how splitting your household tasks can impact your sex life.  Like us? Become a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/foreplayrst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we are discussing how to shift from protection to pleasure. George and Laurie dive deep on what couples need to do to regain safety and repair so they can begin to tap into their erotic excitement. Pursuers and withdrawers will be able to identify their fears that create emotional and sexual blocks and what they need to share to their partner. This helps the relationship heal and repair old wounds that keep the cycle stuck and active. When couples do this they can begin to shift to more pleasure focused connection. Safety and reassurance will lead partners to excitement and exploration. Great lovers repair their fears together and use that new, safer energy to explore. Stay current on all our upcoming events at foreplayrst.com Keep it hot y'all! Please check out this episode's sponsor (and help the pod!): Uberlube.com -- Laurie's favorite lube for the last 25 years! Use the code 'foreplay' and get 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With wedding season upon us, Laurie and Adam turn to discussing honeymoons and the relational changes that occur -- even for long-term couples. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices