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Awakenings Center for Intimacy and Sexuality

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Book Recommendations

Loving in Flow by Susan K. Perry. A positive, practical, personal book about getting in sync with your spouse again.

Hot Monogamy by Pat Love. Take the inventory and discover specific advice for areas of your sex life that need help: body image, desire, arousal, romance, technique, spice.

Great Sex by Michael Castleman. Great advice for men who want to understand a woman’s body and how to bring her pleasure.

A Celebration of Sex: A Couples’ Guidebook to Passionate Intimacy by Doug Rosenau, Deborah Neel and Ellen Fox. Christian workbook uses scriptures and exercises to bring back joy. Dr. Neel is a Raleigh psychologist.

Sex Matters for Women by Foley, Kope, Sugrue. Solid information. Answers all the questions women have about sex throughout our life cycle – even the embarrassing ones.

Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch. Excellent, fascinating exploration of the dynamics of a couple on sex. Discover how containing your own anxiety about sex can change everything. Real answers for the higher-desire partner.

The SEX-STARVED Marriage by Michelle Weiner. Kind narrative offers help for couples who are short on desire and long on hurt. Includes direction for the gender-reversed situation of a man with low libido.

The Return of Desire by Gina Ogden. Exciting explorations of spiritual, physical, mental and emotional aspects of sexual desire. New age ideas reveal the complexity of sacred union. Friendly to all sexual orientations.

The Gift of Sex by Penner and Penner. Christian manual for sex. Biblical perspective, physical dimensions, what to do when sex doesn’t work.

Rekindling Desire by Barry and Emily McCarthy. Step-by-step program to help low-sex and no-sex marriages. Confront your guilt, shame and inhibitions. Real help, as well, for men with fetishes or pornography addiction.

I Love Female Orgasm by Solot and Miller. I love this book.

Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel. Smart book about the need for enough autonomy, difference and passion in relationship. “Fire needs air to burn.”. Goes beyond tired explanations that connection alone is all we need.

Hot Sex by Tracy Cox. A new everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-sex written with good humor.

Getting the Sex You Want by Leiblum and Sachs. Intelligent, modern help for a woman throughout life’s transitions including menopause and suddenly single.

I’d Rather Eat Chocolate by Sewell. Hilarious sympathy for sufferers of low libido.

Receiving Love by Hendrix and Hunt. Authors, married partners, teachers, I’ve learned so much about relationship from these two. We are drawn to our opposite for the hope of both partners becoming more whole. Loving expands us and heals us and makes us whole. This is the latest publication but I recommend them all. Every married person who feels like their spouse could never love them the way they need to be loved should read this book.

For Yourself by Lonnie Barbach. For a pre-orgasmic woman who needs an explicit, helpful explanation of how to maximize sexual pleasure.

Becoming Orgasmic by Heiman, LoPiccolo, Palladini. Step-by-step gentle instructions. Great film made by same group.

Gratitude

Deepest thanks to:

Susan Perry – editor extraordinaire, I Would Never Want to Write Again if it hadn’t been for your cheerleading and expertise. You championed a new writer and helped extrude a beautiful finished product. For some practical help with your relationship, read Susan’s book! Loving in Flow. www.bunnyape.com

Flaxenfield – Dee Dee Wilkins, graphic designer, image make-over master – you’ve captured my vision in a single icon with a powerful name. You are psychic when it comes to interpreting an idea. Farm girl who’s the sharpest tool in the shed. www.flaxenfield.com

Crippens Country Inn – Blowing Rock, my writing home away from home. Five-star food, romantic porch, great music, deep talk, attentive service. Try the chocolate salad and have a chat with owner Jimmy. Save me a room! www.crippens.com

Kim McGimsey – marketer, dear friend. Your years of experience with marketing have helped me make wise decisions over the years. Fired Up! can help expand your business with smart direction.

Gene Walker – accountant, one man human-relations department. I’d be broke if it wasn’t for your help. I count you a brother and stand in your debt.

Dr. Brian Bass and Dr. Wanda Radford and Dr. Pouru Bhiwandi– you sent many of my first sex therapy patients in Raleigh and believed that I could help them. Your confidence was invaluable to my reputation. Thanks too to all the other docs who trust patients to me now! I’m humbled by your faith in me.

Chris Erskine, Alan Stern, Debbie Neel, Tim Maas, Dave Rice, Barbara Farrington, Jeanne York, Fr. Paul Edwards – supervisors, teachers, mentors, and consultants – my thinking has been deeply influenced and shaped by your long experience and wisdom. You know deep people magic. You taught me the kindest way to help people change. You changed me.

Regina Ragan, Heloisa Portela, Meredith Pope – working with you has been an honor. You inspire me with your skill, care, and curiosity.

Ashley Frye, Megan Compton – thanks for the book-keeping, organization, patience, clean-up, Fiesta Chicken Salads and TP and girltalk. You’ve saved my life on more than one occasion! What would I do without you?

Jennifer Kromhaut – photographer – You made us all look beautiful! Jennifer, I’m can’t imagine anyone better to make a stressful event fun and laughter-filled! www.acorn-photo.com

Dr. John Marks – Thanks for the educational help in understanding musculature and vaginismus.