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Basic Information

Check out this section to find information that will help consenting adults and caregivers build up base knowledge to help communication on sexual and sexuality topics.

Sex Education Definition: ‘Sex Ed’ or ‘Sexual Education’ is commonly used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexually transmitted disease, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse and other aspects of human sexual behavior.

Katherine is an ordained minister and is active in multiple faith-based congregations.  

Katherine is a compassionate and dedicated non-denominational pastoral counselor who is committed to providing spiritual support and guidance to individuals from all faith backgrounds. With a deep respect for diversity and an inclusive approach, she embraces the unique spiritual journeys and beliefs of each person they work with.

Katherine is open to performing interfaith religious services, creating inclusive spaces for worship and reflection that honor various faith traditions. Her graduate education is in providing spiritual counseling, offering a safe and non-judgmental environment for individuals to explore their spiritual concerns, find meaning, and foster personal growth.

In addition to individual counseling, Katherine actively engages social justice community events, emphasizing the importance of equity, inclusivity, and compassion. She believes in the power of community engagement to create positive change and foster understanding among people from diverse backgrounds.

While the role of a pastoral counselor is often associated with Christian faith communities, Katherine has broad respect for all faiths. She is always learning, with a goal to become well-versed in various religious practices, rituals, and philosophies, allowing her to connect with individuals from different belief systems or even interfaith communities.

With Katherine as your pastoral counselor, you can expect empathetic support, guidance, and a safe space to explore your spirituality regardless of your religious affiliation. She is dedicated to walking alongside you on your spiritual journey, fostering personal growth, and helping you find peace and meaning in your life.

Talking to a young person about sexuality is not the same when they are 4-6 as 7-9.

First big difference a child under 6 years old has not started puberty and their peer group hasn’t either.  

Once over 7 years old even if that young person has not started puberty there is a very good chance that a classmate or someone that they take part in extracurriculars with is showing signs. 

At some point in life you started noticing the changes in your body.  You didn’t always notice, but one day you started to see that changes are not as simple as “I am getting taller.”

Check out https://www.talkwithyourkids.org/talk-with-your-kids-timeline This can help caregivers navigate when to talk about what and strategies for those conversations. 

During puberty the body prepares for reproduction.  At first it is the small shifts in hormones that cause physical changes; as the body begins mature sex assignment we will see a range of things happening. We will review the changes here so that you have some information that you are comfortable when you begin talking about changes with your young person. 

Sexual Education is Important

Yes, you know that. It is the reason you searched out this site.

But why is it important?

Family-based sexual education is a way for caregivers to teach young people their values. 

Sexual education starts younger than many adults think. Young people begin to get messages about gender roles, biological sex and sexuality at a young age. So we are already giving lessons without even knowing it, the idea is to be cognizant of the messages we are sending.

As your young person reaches school age they will be receiving huge amounts of sexuality education. In some schools it will be peer-based, some even fear-based, in some it will be a mixture of peer and abstinence-only curriculum. 

Caregivers can add more to what is taught in their young person's school; they can debunk myths, add perspective and increase their young person's self-confidence.

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