The mental dimension is the arena where clients can seek understanding about the many issues that affect their sexual identity and emotions…
along with their beliefs and messages about sex, intimacy, and love, and messages from family, religion, medicine, the media, and the overall culture, especially the culture they were raised in.
Also inhabiting the mental dimension are issues that include:
- Imagination
- Intuition
- Memory
- Dreams
- Fantasies
- Wishes
- Intentions
- Anticipations and expectations
- More/other____________________
Positive aspects of the mental dimension are characterized by:
- Curiosity
- Discernment
- Expanded beliefs
- Increased understanding
- Illumination
- Problem-solving
- Capacity to seek positive alternatives
- More/other____________________
Shadow aspects of the mental dimension are characterized by:
- Self-limiting messages
- Negative memories
- “Shoulds” and “oughts”
- Rigid judgments about the right way to have sex
- Rigid judgments about how, what, and with whom one is supposed to be sexual
- Lack of curiosity
- More/other____________________
Hot Tip—The mental dimension is where many clients automatically gravitate to as a “safe place”—an escape from both physical senses and emotional feelings. It is also where clients often reveal learned and habitual responses about domination, control, and violence, especially regarding gender roles, orientation, race, and other sexual differences.