On this Pelvic Pain unPacked conversation, we sit down with Heather S. Howard, PhD, a board-certified sexologist, Mind-Body Health Facilitator, and founder of the Center for Sexual Health and Rehabilitation. We explore how people living with pelvic health challenges can reconnect with pleasure, intimacy, and a sense of safety in their bodies and relationships.
We talk about why an interdisciplinary model matters so much, and how collaboration among medical providers, pelvic health therapists, and sexuality professionals can prevent clients from being bounced around the system without meaningful support.
Heather explains the difference between a sexologist and a sex therapist, why specialized training and non-judgmental care are crucial, and how mindset, body awareness, and the nervous system shape sexual experiences, especially when there’s ongoing discomfort or apprehension.
We also introduce Ergoerotics®, Heather’s practical framework for adapting positions, environments, and strategies to support more comfortable intimacy. Listeners will learn the ABCs of her approach and what it looks like to involve partners, reduce dissociation, and build a skilled, compassionate team around sexual well-being.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Interdisciplinary sexual health care and the role of ISSWSH
- What a sexologist is vs a sex therapist and why training and certification matter
- How pelvic health challenges affect intimacy, self-image, and relationships
- Ergoerotics® and adapting positions and environments for comfortable intimacy
- ABCs of sexual well-being – awareness, boundaries, communication
- Partner communication, dissociation, and building a supportive care team
Resources from this Episode
- https://www.sexualrehab.com/About-the-Founder.html
- https://www.isswsh.org/
- https://www.aasect.org/
- https://www.americancollegeofsexologists.org/login_up.php
- https://www.pelvicpain.org/
- https://ergoerotics.com/
Disclaimer:
The information shared in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of MedRoots or the medical community at large. Listeners should consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any healthcare-related decisions.
Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.