Sex and Chronic Illness Dr. Lee Phillips

Dr. Lee interviews Becca Wight, a disability activist in the UK. Becca shares with Dr. Lee her own personal struggles and journey with chronic illness and pain. Becca’s diagnosis led her to become a disability activist where she is committed to helping others and being a voice for people with disabilities. Dr. Lee and Becca discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ disabled individuals and how critical it is to approach activism through an intersectionality lens.

 Becca Wight is a disability activist committed to creating a safe space filled with positivity, education and open conversations on her Instagram Becca_wight. Becca’s activism originated from a young age, since being diagnosed with HSD in 2012 at the age of 11/12. She’s always been passionate about making sure that disabled voices are heard. With over 10 years of doctors’ appointments, internalized and external experiences of ableism, and 4 more diagnoses’ and misdiagnoses’, she’s always been passionate about sharing her own experience to lessen the stigma surrounding disabled people. From championing inclusion within the University of Sheffield, accessibility in theatre, and launching campaigns such as the ‘Keeping Calm Together’ and ‘Making the Invisible Visible’ campaigns in lockdown. She shares disability and mental health-focused content on her Instagram, aiming to provide a safe space for disabled people, boosting disabled people’s self-worth and highlighting the injustices they often face. With a particular focus on challenging ableism which infiltrates our society, her work has been featured in Forbes and shared and viewed by over 300,000 people across the world. She’s also raised disabled voices through the publication of Homecoming Zine, a book that includes artwork, poetry, and prose from several disabled artists on their experience in the pandemic.  

Dr. Lee is excited about having Katherine Zitterbart aka KayteeZee back on Sex and Chronic Illness. KayteeZee was on the show last season where she discussed her non-dual approach to BDSM and how BDSM has helped her in managing her chronic pain/ illness. But this time, Dr. Lee and KayteeZee dive into her personal journey of being queer with cancer. Katherine Zitterbart is a yoga teacher and somatics facilitator with more than 20 years of experience. She specializes in working with diverse populations and those with chronic health issues or neurodivergence. Katherine believes that everyone is inherently worthy and deserving, and she centers compassion, communication, and consent in her work. Over the years, she has helped many people transform their lives through yoga and sexuality education, teaching them the tools they need to heal and thrive.

If you are looking for a yoga teacher who can truly meet you where you are, look no further than Katherine Zitterbart. Dr. Lee and KayteeZee discuss the meaning of queer theory and how the meaning has changed over the years. KayteeZee shares how depression, anxiety, stress, and stigma experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community are interconnected with cancer treatment.

Dr. Lee interviews surrogate partners Brian Gibney and Michelle Renee on the art of Surrogate Partner Therapy. Brian and Michelle Renee share with Dr. Lee how Surrogate Partner Therapy is an effective treatment for obstacles with emotional and physical intimacy, and they explain how it is legal. Brian and Michelle Renee discuss how they glide clients through the resolution of a variety of issues, including histories of trauma or abuse, social anxiety, poor body image, sensual awareness, orgasmic blocks, genital pain, disability, rediscovery of their bodies during/after transition, and late-life virginity in a safe, non-judgmental environment. They also discuss the rewarding and challenging aspects of their work. Dr. Lee and Michelle Renee share their personal experience working together using Sex Therapy and Surrogate Partner Therapy.

Brian has worn many hats in his life: scientific researcher, educator, professional artist, and circus performer. His diverse life experiences have exposed him to a wide variety of people and lifestyles and helped him appreciate the common threads that bind us all together. As a surrogate partner and intimacy coach, Brian seeks to use his knowledge to help people overcome obstacles to physical and emotional intimacy. Applying techniques pioneered by Masters and Johnson, he uses an integrative approach to help others find balance in their intellectual, emotional, and physical selves. With the help of a therapist, His practice is rooted in patience, authenticity, vulnerability, touch…and sometimes a little bit of humor. Brian received his BA in Molecular Biology from Kenyon College in 1999 and his master’s in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts in 2006. He received his training in surrogate partner therapy from IPSA (International Professional Surrogates Association) in 2016. Brian is co-founder of the Surrogate Partner Collective and is currently serving as chair of AASECT’s Somatic Sexuality Professionals special interest group. In addition to working with clients, Brian is a passionate advocate for surrogate partner therapy and regularly lectures at private practices, universities, workshops, and professional conferences.

Michelle Renee (she/her), based in both Baltimore, Maryland and San Diego, California, offers human connection and intimacy coaching ranging from platonic nurturing touch to surrogate partner therapy. Through her training with Cuddlist and Cuddle Party, Michelle gained a wealth of consent, communication, and boundary education and experience. In 2018 she expanded her offerings to include surrogate partner therapy, training with Integrative Mind Body Therapies (IMBT). Michelle is a supporting member of AASECT and a co-founder of Embrace, a professional resource group for surrogate partners and collaborating clinicians.

Dr. Lee interviews Gigi Robinson, a GenZ thought leader and mental health advocate. Gigi is a thought leader in the creator economy, explicitly focusing on authentic partnerships. She is known for her podcast on Spotify called, Everything You Need Is Within and she has been featured in 60 plus podcasts.

Gigi is pursuing a Master of Science degree in innovation, design, business, and technology from the University of Southern California. She has created content for many companies including Spotify, Best Buy, and Instagram. In addition, she is a guest speaker at universities including USC, UCLA, and many more. Gigi has been on speaking panels for Yahoo, Meta, Reuters Pharma, and USC.

Gigi shares with Dr. Lee how her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome journey allowed her to be a voice and advocate for others. Gigi discusses her challenges with the medical community and offers tips when dating with a chronic illness.

Sex and Chronic Illness is back for Season 2!

Tune in for shame-free conversations about chronic illness, disability, and intimacy. Through discussions with educators, couples, and experts, Dr. Lee explores strategies for overcoming the sexual challenges caused by illness and disability.

Dr. Lee interviews Rachael Rose (she/her), a chronically disabled, bisexual, neurodivergent, and polyamorous Certified Sex & Relationship Coach and Educator. Her work focuses on an inclusive, sex-positive, and pleasure-focused approach to sex education and sexual health for all, and she specializes in the ways chronic illness, disabilities, and ADHD impact sex and relationships.

She’s presented about sexuality topics both in the US and internationally and she has been featured in media such as Teen Vogue, Bustle, and Sexual Health Magazine. Rachael is also the creator of the award-winning sexuality blog Hendonish.com and is the co-founder of Glittergasm Events, an event company that hosts inclusive and accessible sex-positive play parties for the LGBTQ+ community.

Rachael is also an advocate for disability rights and accessibility, and her work on fragrance accessibility has been featured in UCLA’s Accessible spaces Toolkit. She’s volunteered her time to help multiple conferences and events create and fine-tune their accessibility policies to be more inclusive of the 30% of the population who live with fragrance sensitivities.

Dr. Lee and Rachael dive into an overview of what Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis is and how there is a lot of emotional labor that comes from educating people about disabilities, including the advocacy for accessibility. Rachael shares her experience on how she became a sex and relationship coach. Dr. Lee and Rachael also discuss how being disabled has affected her approach sexually- emotionally, physically, and mentally. Rachael shares with the audience her approach to advocating for sexual health with new doctors.