My Personal & Professional Healing Journey
Amy Marsh, DHS, ACS, CHt
Doctor of Human Sexuality
Board Certified by the American College of Sexologists
Certified Hypnotherapist
Like many of my clients, I know what it's like to experience chronic loss of sexual desire, painful intercourse, and the lingering trauma of sexual abuse. For over two decades, I also suffered from chronic fatigue and thedisabling effects of environmental illness, conditions which all but destroyed my formerly vibrant, healthy sexuality. Of course, this period of illness had a profound impact on my marriage and family life.
But in 2000, during a brief visit to Maui under extraordinary circumstances, I experienced an unexpected spiritual epiphany and a beginning of physical healing. On Maui, I felt healthier and more energetic than I had in years! Thanks to the island, I got my life back! Back in California, I threw myself into a deep exploration of Native Hawaiian culture: studying hula, ho'oponopono, literature, spiritual traditions, and current affairs. During this time I experienced more epiphanies and other forms of guidance. I also began to reclaim my capacity for joy as a loving, sensual, sexual human being.
These are the origins of my commitment to assist others in their own journey towards sexual healing. I began to study energetic practices, such as those found in Tantra and other forms of sacred sexuality. This spurred my resolve to study at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS) in San Francisco. Though still suffering somewhat from the effects of environmental illness, I was able to complete the program and in October, 2008, I was awarded the Doctor of Human Sexuality (DHS) degree. I was also certified by the American College of Sexologists. By the end of 2008, I completed a certification program in Hypnotherapy, as I sensed its great potential for addressing sexual concerns such as problems arising from shame, lack of desire, and trauma.
I continue to study, learn, and grow in my resolve to offer service to those in need of sexual healing. Should I be fortunate enough to work with you, I offer you my training, intelligence, intuition, creativity, and commitment to your wellbeing.
Recent Professional Activities
❀ Associate Professor of Human Sexuality at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS), San Francisco, CA.
❀ Co-facilitator, Summer SAR (Sexual Attitude Restructuring) Program, IASHS. June-July, 2009.
❀ Founder, The Intimate Aspie (formerly the Asperger's Intimacy Counseling and Education Project).
❀ Publisher, The Intimate Aspie and "There's More" - print on demand magazine series.
❀ Columnist, "Love's Outer Limits," Carnal Nation. (Note: this weekly column will now continue on BlogSpot, publishing on Thursdays. http://lovesouterlimits.blogspot.com)
❀ Internet Radio Host, "Love's Outer Limits" and "And So to Bed..." on BlogTalk Radio.
Education
❀ Completed doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in 2008. Training included clinical sexology, general sex education, multicultural considerations, legal issues, erotology, sexually transmitted infections, LGBTQI issues, BDSM and "kink" issues. Dr. Marsh also holds a certificate in somatic sexology (sexological bodywork) but does not include this in her practice.
❀ Completed hypnotherapy certification in December, 2008, through Marilyn Gordon's Center for Hypnotherapy Certification in Oakland. She has additional certification in Medical Hypnotherapy, Pain Control and Emergency Hypnosis.
❀ Dr. Marsh is a trained PREP® educator who gives workshops and private classes in pre-marital, marital and couples education. Personally, she is also a Level Three Cobra Breath practitioner of Ipsalu Tantra and continues to study sacred sexual traditions of various cultures, including Hawai'i.
Upcoming Presentations
❀ "The Essence of Intimacy" (SAR), American Counseling Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2011.
❀ "Asperger's Syndrome Sexuality: Understanding Sociosexual Challenges in Romantic Relationships", American Counseling Association, New Orleans, LA, March 2011.
Recent Presentations
❀ "Sex - The Big Picture," Guest Lecture, Berkeley City College, Oct. 28, 2010.
❀ "You Mean There's More? A Parent's Guide to Alternative Sexualities", Gender Spectrum Conference, Berkeley, CA, Sept. 3-6, 2010.
❀ "The Essence of Intimacy" (SAR), American Counseling Association Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. March 19, 2010.
❀ "Aloha and Kokua for Mahuwahine - Native Hawaiian Transgender Women", Gender Odyssey Conference, Seattle, WA. September 2009.
❀ "Aspergerʻs Syndrome and Sexuality", Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities, Honolulu, HI. May 2009.
Research & Inquiry
❀ "Le'ale'a O Na Poe Kahiko - Joy of the People of Old", Native Hawaiian Sexual Traditions (doctoral project).
❀ "Love Among the Objectum Sexuals", Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality.
❀ Semen taste survey for Carnal Nation column.
❀ Asperger's Syndrome and Sexuality (unpublished).
❀ The American College of Sexologists (ACS)
❀ The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
❀ The American Counseling Association (ACA)
❀ The National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH)
❀ California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO) - recently joined
