Again and again I have seen people give up on intimacy —which I define here as emotional and/or physical closeness with another person. Often it is because we are ashamed or afraid of opening up and revealing ourselves. We have all suffered traumas of one kind or another. Being newly single and not knowing how to start over? It feels daunting. Sometimes illness and disability have seemingly put up too many obstacles to physical or even emotional intimacy. Walls come up between two people who have lived together for decades and no longer trust each other enough to share their innermost feelings and thoughts. But the most surprising thing I learned in my Intimacy Coach training is that you don’t have to be in a long-term romantic relationship to experience intimacy. Intimacy is something that I have been experiencing with my clients since Day 1. I just never knew to call it that or refer to it as such.
I am passionate about helping people find or rediscover intimacy wherever they are on their journey. Intimacy is a beautiful part of being human. And it’s available to us in friendships and caregiving relationships of all kinds, as well as in romantic relationships – but not only. I know how to hold my personal and professional boundaries, and attune to my clients. I feel confident that I can be a good support and a good mirror for other adults who want to move beyond loneliness and isolation to connection, wholeness and joy.
Intimacy is about trust. It means being clear about our boundaries and our triggers. Our communication styles and how they evolved. Sharing who we are. What we want and need. Being vulnerable. Being willing to accept flaws in ourselves and others. Intimacy allows us to fully relax. And receive love. There is no barrier other than our own hearts to allowing ourselves to experience this with not just one, but many people in our lives. You know it when you feel it. It is a gift I give to my clients.
