Shannon Cahill (she/her)

I’m a therapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) living in Denver, CO. I graduated from the University of Denver with a Master’s Degree in Social Work, specializing in mental health. I also have a post-master’s certificate in Sex Therapy from the Sexual Health Alliance which is one of the leading centers of modern sex education. My main approaches include: 1) Attachment Theory: explains how our relationships shape our mental health. Good relationships help us feel secure and valued, leading to healthy behaviors and emotions. Negative experiences, like inconsistency or mistreatment, make it hard to trust others and lower our self-esteem. 2) Systems-Based Approaches: Looks at how your environment and social issues like sexism, the patriarchy, capitalism, or any other form of oppression affect your mental health and shape your life. 3) Self-Compassion: Self-compassion is all about being understanding and kind towards yourself and creating a sense of inner security.

I believe in social justice, equity, progressive social movement, and inclusivity, and often take a "f*ck the system" approach to systemic issues such as the patriarchy, sex negativity stemming from cultural or religious expectations, diet culture/body shaming culture, sexism, classism, racism, and anti-lgbtqia views. From a sex-positive perspective, I lead by example and support open discussions about sexuality and kink, and I work to reduce shame and stigma around sex, promote sexual health and well-being, and empower individuals to explore their sexuality freely and confidently. I'm kink and BDSM positive, and think sex and sexuality are inherently good, though I emphasize the "6 Principles of Sexual Health" which are consent, non-exploitation, safety, honesty, shared values, and pleasure.