Workshops Offered
These workshops can be presented on Zoom or in person within 90 miles of Simi Valley, California.
I do all my work on a Sliding Scale to accommodate any budget. All workshops are 60 minutes.
I have presented for California State University Northridge, Claremont McKenna College, Lorain County Community College, Pasadena City College, SHIP, and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) annual Conference.
Email me at aubrilancaster@gmail.com with any questions or to discuss collaborating on a customized workshop.
01
Asexuality and Aromanticism 101
In a world that centers sexual and romantic relationships above all others, to exist as an Asexual or Aromantic person is to exist outside the current framework of sexuality.
In this workshop we will discuss Asexuality and Aromanticism as Orientations and as Identity terms. We'll touch on the history of these communities and explore the expansive language of differentiated attractions, microlabels, attitudes about sex and romance, Intersectional forms of oppression and erasure, and introduce a variety of resources.
02
The Anatomy of Pleasure
While sex education in school usually focuses on reproductive function of the genitals, little attention is given to sexual pleasure. This workshop explores the anatomy of the genitals and the whole body in the context of sexual pleasure, making space for Intersex, Trans, and Disabled bodies.
We will discuss terminology, libido, arousal, desire, partnered sex, solo sex, and introduce some toys and enhancement products that can assist pleasure.
03
Kink: Consensual
Negotiated Adult Play
What even IS Kink?? Kink may or may not involve sexually arousing activities, sensually stimulating activities, or power exchanges. This workshop presents Kink as a way to sever ties to prescribed "normative" expectations and to claim agency over one's own needs, desires, limits, and boundaries.
We will introduce BDSM, Fetishes, Consent, Boundaries, Sensation play, Role play, Impact Play, Scene Negotiation, Risk reduction, Communication, Toys, and Aftercare.
04
Where's the Steering Wheel?
Attraction, Desire, and Asexuality
Low Desire, Low Libido, Sexual Dysfunction, Desire Discrepancies, HSDD, FSIAD. There are many ways that Western Psychology has pathologized and attempted to "fix" those who have been labeled as not meeting the expected "normal" level of sexual desire.
In this workshop we will discuss how sexual desire is measured and defined and what "normal" even means. We'll examine the sexual response cycle, spontaneous vs responsive desire, the dual control model of sexual desire, and how sexual orientation acts as a steering wheel to give directionality to desire. Within this context we will look directly at Asexuality and how we can make space for those who don't experience sexual attraction and what that means for Asexual people who do or don't have Desire and how to avoid Asexual Conversion Therapy.
05
Re-Defining Intimacy:
What is Too Close for Comfort?
Intimacy has regularly been conflated with sex and romance, but this association can also obscure the deep and valuable ways that platonic intimacy can enhance our lives.
In this workshop we will re-define intimacy as Closeness and Connection and examine a differentiated look at Emotional Intimacy, Intellectual Intimacy, Aesthetic Intimacy, Social Intimacy, Sensual/Affectionate Intimacy, and Spiritual/Cultural Intimacy. We will discuss how Gender and Racialization has influenced how we access various forms of intimacy and how Asexuality, Aromanticism, and Non-Monogamy are challenging social "rules" around how we connect to those around us.
06
The Romeo and Juliet Effect:
De-Mystifying Limerence and Romantic Love
In Dr Dorothy Tennov's 1979 book "Love and Limerence" Tennov takes a scientific approach to bring 6 years of research interviewing thousands of subjects on their lived experiences of Romantic Love. Not only did she identify key elements of romantic love, but she coined the term Limerence to describe the specific stages of falling into romantic love and the common outcomes that come from reciprocation or rejection. Most fascinating though, is how frequently she identified non-limerent individuals who had never experienced Limerence and what their perceptions of romantic love may look like.
In this workshop we will discuss Tennov's work in context of Romeo and Juliet, the biology of romantic love and heartbreak through the work of Dr Helen Fischer, and how the Aromantic community has taken agency of non-limerence.
07
You're Invited: Adult Toy Show
Adult Toy Parties have been a fun and informative way for people to learn about anatomy, arousal, pleasure, and sexual exploration for decades. I bring the fun of these parties into this workshop without the pressure of sales. Learn about the variety of toys, lubes, accessories, and how to identify the materials and ingredients that can help or hurt your sexual adventures. This workshop is best done in person so participants can get the full experience of turning on the toys, tasting the flavored lubricants, and asking questions in a comfortable environment.