Intimacy Beyond Sex
“What does emotional foreplay look like to you?”
— Allison Villa
In any long-term relationship, there will be periods where sexual frequency shifts. This can be tied to medical issues, stress, changes in mental health, changes in workload, having young children, or life just getting in the way.
While many couples worry that having less sex automatically means that their relationship is in trouble, that’s far from the truth! These ebbs and flows are a natural part of being in a long-term relationship...which is why understanding The 4 Relationship Seasons is so helpful. [Do you know your season yet? Take the free quiz here]
Not only is having less sex not inherently harmful to your couple, but “intimacy” goes beyond just physical intimacy — there are five different types of intimacy that you can practice with your partner, and each piece contributes to your connection and the health of your relationship. In fact, these acts of emotional foreplay can hugely heighten the connection and pleasure you feel during physical intimacy!
This episode is all about looking beyond sex to strengthen your intimacy through the “in-between” moments, finding new ways to connect, and unlocking new areas of exploration.
In this episode of Couplehood, you’ll discover:
The 5 different types of intimacy and the roles that they play in your couple
How emotional foreplay can greatly elevate your moments physical intimacy
3 conversation starters that you can use to bring up the topic of intimacy with your partner
“We all need to be seen as individuals outside of our role as parents.”
— Allison Villa
Highlights:
00:23 Introduction
01:21 Let’s talk about sex
03:19 Beyond sex
04:24 Emotional intimacy
06:53 Affection & touch
08:47 Intellectual intimacy
09:13 Spiritual & creative intimacy
11:07 3 conversation starters
13:08 Recap
Links:
Work With Me: https://www.allisonvilla.com
Follow Me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/allison__villa
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