Meet Desiree Robinson, certified 4-D Wheel practitioner, LCSW-C, CST, ACS-Certified Sex Therapist & Psychotherapist focusing on Connection, Intimacy & Trauma | Bariatric Specialist
Can you tell us about your introduction to the 4-D Wheel, and what motivated you to learn more about the wheel and the 4-D Network?
I first learned about the 4-D Wheel through an email listserv where I was able to see the generous work of Dr. Gina Ogden. The concept of integrating sexuality and spirituality seemed to be the correct combination of words that reflected my purview and sentiments around facets of sexuality not typically seen in the sex therapy courses I had been surrounded by at the time. Gina was so generous to speak with me over the phone about the work, how it impacts individuals, couples and groups. Although I never got to meet Gina in person, I have slowly taken courses and kept in touch over the years – hoping for more opportunities to expand my capacity to learn more about this beautiful work.
How do you use the 4-D Wheel, and what is your specialty?
I use the 4-D wheel in my clinical work and in my coaching practice. A significant portion of my work is working with the intrapsychic messages people have around their bodies – especially larger shapes/sizes, religious/spiritual disconnect, intersectional cultural identities, traumatic loss for African Americans – all within the context of how these can disconnect us from intimate-sexual vitality and comfort.
My niche as a bariatric specialist often threads many of these elements within the stories of the women I support – their bodies becoming the currency for how they are able to operate in the world and how that impacts the ability to authentically be themselves in every facet – including sexually.
While it makes *perfect* sense to continue using our creative and necessary coping mechanisms based on our filters of survival or our stories of resilience, these often disconnect us from our desires by creating contention in our everyday lives – particularly our relationship with ourselves. With the support of the 4-D wheel, I hold the container to allow people to access the parts they work so hard to hide, suppress, conform and even deny by offering the opportunity to be witnessed and attuned to – with the utmost care and compassion.
My work is highly integrative and I utilize the 4-D when in conjunction with ego state therapy/parts work, attachment insights, emotion focused therapy, expressive therapy techniques (ie: sand tray, drawing, coloring, journaling, etc) in addition to relevant concepts that I pull from different forms of Yoga/Eastern Thought including Tantra, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga and (African) Diasporic Inspired Practices.
What do you hope to do more of in the world using the 4-D Wheel as one of your tools to help heal people, and what is your vision or mission for this work?
My desire is for people to allow the 4-D Wheel to act as the “mirror” in which they can learn their own reflection, as opposed to operating from the story others have given them. There is an updated version we all have that our younger or wounded parts do not yet know. I desire for the wheel to help people learn to integrate through the process of exploration, intentional choice, self-compassion and the ability to learn self-trust.
What message do you have for other 4-D members?
I would encourage other 4-D members (and potential members) to continue to push the envelope of where and how this methodology can be applied. The more I see areas of longing and need, the more I also settle into opportunities for integrative work – like our beloved 4-D Wheel. Allow every morsel of your story, your identity and your purpose to be reflected in your own wheel work…you deserve to see the brilliance you offer to others!
You can find Desiree online here: www.DesireeNRobinson.com, or by email: desiree@yourheartsdesiretw.com
