Beyond Shame
Description
We all carry sexual shame. Whether we grew up in the repressive purity culture of American Evangelical Christianity or not, we've all been taught in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that sex (outside of very specific contexts) is immoral and taboo. Psychotherapist Matthias Roberts helps readers overcome their shame around sex by overcoming three unhealthy coping mechanisms we use to manage that shame.
Beyond Shame encourages each of us to determine our own definition of healthy sex, while avoiding the ditches of boundaryless sex positivity on the one hand and strict moralistic boundaries on the other. Define your sexual values on your own terms, overcome your shame, and start having great, healthy sex.
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Person
Matthias Roberts is a licensed mental-health counselor associate in Seattle, Washington, and host of Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and Being. He holds two masters degrees, one in theology and culture and one in counseling psychology. In his psychotherapy practice, he specializes in helping LGBTQ+ teens and adults live confident and fulfilling lives. He writes and speaks nationwide about the intersections between gender, sexuality, mental health, and theology.
Content
- Front Cover
- Beyond Shame
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Introduction: Don't Look! Sex, Shame, and Faith
- Part I: How We Cope with Sex and Shame
- Shamefulness
- Shamelessness
- Autopilot
- Part II: Lies We Tell about Sex and Shame
- "The Bible Is Clear"
- "God Invented Patriarchy"
- "Queerness Is Sinful"
- Part III: Moving beyond Shame: The Paradoxes of Sex
- Paradox 1: Sex Is Healthy and Risky
- Paradox 2: Sex Makes Us Vulnerable and Helps Us Avoid Vulnerability
- Paradox 3: Sex Requires Safety and Safety Is Not Guaranteed
- Paradox 4: We Will Get Things Wrong and Right at the Same Time
- Conclusion: The Final Paradox: Embracing Shame
- Resources and Further Reading
- Acknowledgments
- Back Cover
