Dr. Lee interviews Becca Wight, a disability activist in the UK. Becca shares with Dr. Lee her own personal struggles and journey with chronic illness and pain. Becca’s diagnosis led her to become a disability activist where she is committed to helping others and being a voice for people with disabilities. Dr. Lee and Becca discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ disabled individuals and how critical it is to approach activism through an intersectionality lens.
Becca Wight is a disability activist committed to creating a safe space filled with positivity, education and open conversations on her Instagram Becca_wight. Becca’s activism originated from a young age, since being diagnosed with HSD in 2012 at the age of 11/12. She’s always been passionate about making sure that disabled voices are heard. With over 10 years of doctors’ appointments, internalized and external experiences of ableism, and 4 more diagnoses’ and misdiagnoses’, she’s always been passionate about sharing her own experience to lessen the stigma surrounding disabled people. From championing inclusion within the University of Sheffield, accessibility in theatre, and launching campaigns such as the ‘Keeping Calm Together’ and ‘Making the Invisible Visible’ campaigns in lockdown. She shares disability and mental health-focused content on her Instagram, aiming to provide a safe space for disabled people, boosting disabled people’s self-worth and highlighting the injustices they often face. With a particular focus on challenging ableism which infiltrates our society, her work has been featured in Forbes and shared and viewed by over 300,000 people across the world. She’s also raised disabled voices through the publication of Homecoming Zine, a book that includes artwork, poetry, and prose from several disabled artists on their experience in the pandemic.
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Dr. Lee interviews Becca Wight, a disability activist in the UK. Becca shares with Dr. Lee her own personal struggles and journey with chronic illness and pain. Becca’s diagnosis led her to become a disability activist where she is committed to helping others and being a voice for people with disabilities. Dr. Lee and Becca discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ disabled individuals and how critical it is to approach activism through an intersectionality lens.
Becca Wight is a disability activist committed to creating a safe space filled with positivity, education and open conversations on her Instagram Becca_wight. Becca’s activism originated from a young age, since being diagnosed with HSD in 2012 at the age of 11/12. She’s always been passionate about making sure that disabled voices are heard. With over 10 years of doctors’ appointments, internalized and external experiences of ableism, and 4 more diagnoses’ and misdiagnoses’, she’s always been passionate about sharing her own experience to lessen the stigma surrounding disabled people. From championing inclusion within the University of Sheffield, accessibility in theatre, and launching campaigns such as the ‘Keeping Calm Together’ and ‘Making the Invisible Visible’ campaigns in lockdown. She shares disability and mental health-focused content on her Instagram, aiming to provide a safe space for disabled people, boosting disabled people’s self-worth and highlighting the injustices they often face. With a particular focus on challenging ableism which infiltrates our society, her work has been featured in Forbes and shared and viewed by over 300,000 people across the world. She’s also raised disabled voices through the publication of Homecoming Zine, a book that includes artwork, poetry, and prose from several disabled artists on their experience in the pandemic.
S2 E2: Exploring the Art of Surrogate Partner Therapy: Michelle Renee & Brian Gibney
Sex and Chronic Illness
1 hour 1 minute 11 seconds
3 years ago
S2 E2: Exploring the Art of Surrogate Partner Therapy: Michelle Renee & Brian Gibney
Dr. Lee interviews surrogate partners Brian Gibney and Michelle Renee on the art of Surrogate Partner Therapy. Brian and Michelle Renee share with Dr. Lee how Surrogate Partner Therapy is an effective treatment for obstacles with emotional and physical intimacy, and they explain how it is legal. Brian and Michelle Renee discuss how they glide clients through the resolution of a variety of issues, including histories of trauma or abuse, social anxiety, poor body image, sensual awareness, orgasmic blocks, genital pain, disability, rediscovery of their bodies during/after transition, and late-life virginity in a safe, non-judgmental environment. They also discuss the rewarding and challenging aspects of their work. Dr. Lee and Michelle Renee share their personal experience working together using Sex Therapy and Surrogate Partner Therapy.
Brian has worn many hats in his life: scientific researcher, educator, professional artist, and circus performer. His diverse life experiences have exposed him to a wide variety of people and lifestyles and helped him appreciate the common threads that bind us all together. As a surrogate partner and intimacy coach, Brian seeks to use his knowledge to help people overcome obstacles to physical and emotional intimacy. Applying techniques pioneered by Masters and Johnson, he uses an integrative approach to help others find balance in their intellectual, emotional, and physical selves. With the help of a therapist, His practice is rooted in patience, authenticity, vulnerability, touch…and sometimes a little bit of humor. Brian received his BA in Molecular Biology from Kenyon College in 1999 and his master’s in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts in 2006. He received his training in surrogate partner therapy from IPSA (International Professional Surrogates Association) in 2016. Brian is co-founder of the Surrogate Partner Collective and is currently serving as chair of AASECT’s Somatic Sexuality Professionals special interest group. In addition to working with clients, Brian is a passionate advocate for surrogate partner therapy and regularly lectures at private practices, universities, workshops, and professional conferences.
Michelle Renee (she/her), based in both Baltimore, Maryland and San Diego, California, offers human connection and intimacy coaching ranging from platonic nurturing touch to surrogate partner therapy. Through her training with Cuddlist and Cuddle Party, Michelle gained a wealth of consent, communication, and boundary education and experience. In 2018 she expanded her offerings to include surrogate partner therapy, training with Integrative Mind Body Therapies (IMBT). Michelle is a supporting member of AASECT and a co-founder of Embrace, a professional resource group for surrogate partners and collaborating clinicians.
Sex and Chronic Illness
Dr. Lee interviews Becca Wight, a disability activist in the UK. Becca shares with Dr. Lee her own personal struggles and journey with chronic illness and pain. Becca’s diagnosis led her to become a disability activist where she is committed to helping others and being a voice for people with disabilities. Dr. Lee and Becca discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ disabled individuals and how critical it is to approach activism through an intersectionality lens.
Becca Wight is a disability activist committed to creating a safe space filled with positivity, education and open conversations on her Instagram Becca_wight. Becca’s activism originated from a young age, since being diagnosed with HSD in 2012 at the age of 11/12. She’s always been passionate about making sure that disabled voices are heard. With over 10 years of doctors’ appointments, internalized and external experiences of ableism, and 4 more diagnoses’ and misdiagnoses’, she’s always been passionate about sharing her own experience to lessen the stigma surrounding disabled people. From championing inclusion within the University of Sheffield, accessibility in theatre, and launching campaigns such as the ‘Keeping Calm Together’ and ‘Making the Invisible Visible’ campaigns in lockdown. She shares disability and mental health-focused content on her Instagram, aiming to provide a safe space for disabled people, boosting disabled people’s self-worth and highlighting the injustices they often face. With a particular focus on challenging ableism which infiltrates our society, her work has been featured in Forbes and shared and viewed by over 300,000 people across the world. She’s also raised disabled voices through the publication of Homecoming Zine, a book that includes artwork, poetry, and prose from several disabled artists on their experience in the pandemic.
