AISLING MARKS

Many of us move through life affected to some degree by sexual shame, consent violations, body issues, limiting sexual beliefs, and performance anxiety. And we’re impacted by the cultures and systems that shape how we perceive ourselves and others. Many of us wonder if there’s a way through it all to something more expansive, life-affirming and aligned with our values. Sometimes, we just want to feel more at peace in our own bodies, and at home in our relationships.

If this is you, sex and relationship therapy is a place where you can explore and expand. I create a welcoming, supportive and non-judgemental space for you to get to the heart of what is troubling you.

I believe that relationships are crucibles for growth and belonging. This includes your relationship to yourself, to your sexual issue, and to your environment. The therapeutic relationship between us is also important, which I use as a vehicle for compassionate transformation and curious self-inquiry.

Therapy with me is collaborative and relational, and I draw upon a variety of evidence-based approaches rooted in awareness and embodiment. This could include imagery, movement and “parts” as creative ways into your process. Sometimes this is messy, surprising, scary or silly. All of it is welcome and held with care and respect.

Before I began my psychosexual training, I worked in the arts and as an English teacher with adolescents. I led a LGBTQ+ support group, and worked as a union rep. I completed a PhD looking at pedagogies of care in art education, focusing on self-organised, alternative and radical schooling. I have always loved learning. Movement practices formed a core part of my development. I studied yoga, trapeze and Contact Improvisation, and the latter quickly became a great love. I teach Contact Improvisation to adults and cherish the learnings about embodied presence, relationality, mutuality, play and interdependence: how we learn and grow through and alongside each other is an essential quality that I bring into therapy.

For the past year I have been on a specialist placement in an NHS Psychosexual Therapy service, working with couples and individuals across the gender and sexuality spectrum. I also work on a crisis line for people experiencing housing injustice and homelessness.

I am queer, kink-affirming, trauma-informed and situate my work politically in the context of the multiple crises facing humanity and the earth’s ecosystems.

I am particularly interested in working with intimate partner relationships, survivors of sexual harm, queer and kinky people.

Qualifications:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy (in progress)
• Level 5 Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy
• PhD in Art & Education
• MA Theatre
• Relational Life Therapy Level 1
• Bereavement Support Foundation Training
• Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary English Education
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Student member, COSRT

Areas of support include:

• Challenges in romantic and platonic relationships
• Communication & conflict
• Exploring gender identity, sexual identity and gender expression
• BDSM/ Kink/ Fetish
• Embodiment & Relationality
• Vaginismus and painful sex
• Navigating sex and relationships through grief, bereavement & loss.
• Penis difficulties, including erections
• Involuntary, rapid & delayed ejaculation
• Body image
• Consent
• Sex & religion
• Intimacy & Connection
• Low or no sexual desire
• Sexual shame
• Sex & spirituality