Sex Matters: Honoring the Challenges and the Opportunities of the Erotic

Conversations sex tend to get stuck at the level of good/bad, right/wrong, taboo/titillation. We are long overdue for an approach to sex that celebrates it as a space of healing, expression, and play. Alexandra Solomon, Ph.D. has been studying relationships for over two decades as a professor, therapist, and author. Whether she is working with members of the military, business leaders, clinicians, or college students, Dr. Solomon thoughtfully and compassionately blends clinical theory, research, and cultural critique in order to offer tools for loving with courage and optimism. In this talk, she will introduce you to the idea of sexual self-awareness and explore how sex is both a behavior and a gateway into some of the deepest questions we encounter as humans: Do I matter? Am I OK? Are you with me? You’ll leave with a new perspective and tools for approaching sex with empathy, curiosity, and self-compassion.

Dr. Solomon is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University, a lecturer in NU’s School of Education and Social Policy, a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and is on faculty at The Omega Institute. She teaches the internationally renowned NU undergraduate course, “Building Loving and Lasting Relationships: Marriage 101.” Dr. Solomon is a highly sought-after speaker who works with groups like the United States Military Academy at West Point, Microsoft, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is frequently asked to talk about love, sex, and marriage for media outlets like O, The Oprah Magazine, The Atlantic, Vogue, NPR, and Scientific American.