It includes an individuals relationships with the different parts of oneself, with each other, and with all of creation. A whole systems approach recognizes that treating one isolated symptom or problem is only partially effective at best and can actually be harmful. Instead, we consider the complete individual along with his or her family, community, and society. We view health as the natural outcome of fully allowing and integrating every aspect of self and opening to an experience of unity with others and with the Divine. Since sexuality is an area where many people experience both internal and interpersonal conflicts, and it is often left out of holistic health care, we focus our attention here.
Sexual healing encompasses three broad, interrelated categories of work.
R eleasing genital armoring and regaining your capacity for pleasure. Almost everyone who's come of age in our sex negative culture needs loving guidance in adulthood in order to reach their full sexual potential. Genital armoring initially occurs when children are shamed or discouraged from touching their genitals, enjoying their bodies through masturbation and engaging in natural exploration with peers. The most dramatic and severe genital armoring is often a result of rape or child sexual abuse but ordinary people with no personal history of abuse can easily acquire enough armoring to drastically limit their sexual pleasure simply by being exposed to societys typical anti-sex messages. The concept of genital armoring is derived from Wilhelm Reichs theory of body armoring.