MODERATOR BIO (HELEN)
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May 3, 2016 at 7:33 pm #19156Helen Leff, LCSWModerator
Helen Leff, LMSW, holds a Master Degree in Social Work with over 25 years of experience. She earned a BS in Special Education from City College of the City University of N.Y. and studied at Tel Aviv University in Israel. Helen received her Master’s degree in social work from New York University. She attended the Advanced Training Program in Psychotherapy at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health.
Helen has devoted many years providing counseling and advocacy services to families of children with developmental disabilities both at the Shield Institute as well as the Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC). She has extensive experience working with single mothers and has always been passionate about championing women and committed to issues promoting women’s health and welfare. She believes that “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Throughout her career as a mental health professional, Helen has endeavored to take a holistic view in understanding the needs of individuals as well as incorporating the larger family and social dynamics effecting them. A tireless advocate, Helen’s greatest professional satisfaction comes from helping those in need to develop self-empowerment skills to take greater control of their situations and to become their own best ally, advisor, and advocate.
December 8, 2018 at 7:41 am #24022bbaleniParticipantHi Helen is it ok to have sex in between dilating therapy?
December 10, 2018 at 1:51 pm #24038Helen Leff, LCSWModeratorHi bbaleni,
So glad you are asking about having sex “in between dilation therapy”. At Maze we encourage having non intercourse sex, which is not penis in vagina sex, while you are working on dilation. Again I am talking about manual, oral or other sexual activity that isn’t penetrating the vagina. This is so you continue to feel sexually connected until your vaginismus is resolved. We suggest no intercourse until you have successfully completed dilation and are ready for what we term “maintenance dilation”. That’s because we want to set you up to have successful pain free intercourse. When you have been able to dilate just a bit larger than your partner’s penis we suggest you attempt intercourse (when you feel ready). We also suggest that you dilate right before intercourse to have the best chance for successful pain free penis in vagina penetration. We also suggest you use a good lubricant such as organic coconut oil (not to be used with condoms) or Sliquid. I hope this information is helpful.
Wishing you luck on your journey and happy to answer any questions you may have along the way,
Helen
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