Healthy Living and Healthy Sexuality Resources in Los Angeles and Beyond
Below you will find numerous organizations, events, informational websites, books and more that can be helpful in your journey to healthy living and healthy sexuality.
Healthy Sexuality Resources
THE PLEASURE CHEST EVENTS CALENDAR
If you are looking for a class on BDSM, oral sex, Kink, bondage, or anything to spark your sexual curiosities, check out the Pleasure Chest Events Calendar. They offer a variety of events that are educational, open and friendly.
AASECT
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists governs the certification process for Certified Sex Therapists. You can check their website to learn more about sex education, as well as to find a Sex Therapy practitioner near you.
YES, NO, MAYBE
Yes, No, Maybe lists are great for opening up dialogue around sexual wants and desires between partners. This is a link to a few different ones available on the internet. Some are more “Vanilla” focused whereas others are a little kinkier/naughtier. Take some time to sit down and fill one out with your partner and see where you overlap!
SANTA MONICA RAPE TREATMENT CENTER
The Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center provides crisis counseling and support to victims of sexual assault. They are available to support your 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
PREMATURE EJACULATION HELP
Prematureejaculation.help is a free an educational website that provides information and resources for men struggling with premature ejaculation. Additionally, the Between Us Clinic offers a great app for managing PE.
Twelve Step Support Groups (Free – Donation Based)
Please note: descriptions of each group are based on my personal thoughts. They are not endorsed by any particular fellowship. All of the below fellowships also offer online meetings through the organization’s main webpage.
SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (SAA)
Sex Addicts Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship providing support for men and women who struggle with sexual addiction. Meetings are donation based only and anonymous. Click here for the SAA homepage or for the local Southern California Chapter page and meeting schedule. More information on the fellowship and their literature can be found on their home page.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA)
Alcoholics Anonymous is the original 12 Step fellowship, providing relief to alcoholics since 1935. Their website includes links for a free copy of their basic text, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as directories of meetings, events, and conferences. The link for their Los Angeles office can be found here.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA)
Narcotics Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for people who struggle with the use of narcotic drugs. They have a Westside Chapter website, a Greater Los Angeles Chapter website, a Hollywood Chapter website and an East Los Angeles Chapter.
SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for men and women who struggle with Sex and/or Love Addiction. There is a Los Angeles Chapter with a meeting schedule as well as the fellowship’s homepage. More information and access to literature can be found on their homepage.
AL-ANON
Al-Anon is a 12 Step fellowship for anyone who has a problem with another person’s drinking. The group typically includes friends, family, and spouses of alcoholics, but is open to anyone who knows a problem drinker. The Los Angeles Al-Anon website provides information about the fellowship, meeting schedules, and resources for children and adult children of alcoholics. This group is particularly helpful for people who struggle with codependency or find themselves trying to change another person’s behavior.
MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS
Marijuana Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for men and women who struggle with their marijuana use. Meetings can be attended online, in person, or over the phone.
Recommended Reading
COPING WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION BY METZ & McCARTHY
If you are seeing me for Erectile Dysfunction, purchasing the book Coping with Erectile Dysfunction will be one of my first suggestions and an important tool for helping you overcome your sexual concerns.
HEALING THE SHAME THAT BINDS YOU
For anyone who struggles with self doubt, excessive guilt, or shame, Healing the Shame that Binds You is the book necessary to begin to grow beyond the wounds of childhood.
INTIMACY & DESIRE BY DR. DAVID SCHNARCH
Dr David Schnarch is one of the forefathers of Sex Therapy. Intimacy & Desire takes a relational approach to sex therapy (rather than a “how-to” approach). Schnarch discusses the relationship dynamics that lead to intimacy and desire, and the dynamics that can kill it. This book is recommended for couples and monogamous relationships that have found themselves at a sexual stand-still.
COPING WITH PREMATURE EJACULATION BY METZ & MCCARTHY
Written by the same authors as Coping with ED, Coping with Premature Ejaculation is a thorough and comprehensive guide to regaining control over your ejaculation.
GREAT SEX BY MICHAEL CASTLEMAN
Written by a man, for men, Great Sex is a how-to guide to teach men what women want from sex and intimacy. Castleman is a sex therapist and consulted with a variety of other sex therapy professionals when writing this book.
GETTING THE SEX YOU WANT BY TAMMY NELSON
Dr Tammy Nelson approaches sexual communication in this Imago based guide for couples. Getting the Sex You Want offers structured exercises to help facilitate conversations about how to improve the sexuality in your relationship.