Healthy Sexual Integration and Celibacy
Sexuality is a gift and a challenge, and many people struggle to live with it in a balanced and integrated way. Celibate living is a particular challenge that faces men and women in religious life. We offer workshops that promote the development of the self-awareness and skills necessary to live this vow in a vibrant, healthy, and life-giving way.
There is a need for down-to-earth, psychologically grounded education on healthy sexuality, and opportunities for reflection, integration, and open discussion for those entering (and continuing in) religious life.
Workshop Format
Sexual integration requires both information and personal reflection. All workshops have both didactic and participatory components, are presented in a sensitive, down-to-earth manner. Special attention is paid to the variety participants’ cultures and life experiences. When possible, workshops are presented by a male/female team and are tailored to the needs of your group.
For Those In Early Formation
We have single or multi-day programs on sexual integration and intimacy in consecrated life. These workshops provide a comprehensive overview of sexual issues in religious life, and present sexuality in a holistic fashion. Awareness, acceptance, integration, and integrity are presented as key components of healthy celibate living.
Topics include:
- Sexual development
- Cultural and family influences
- Shame and Guilt
- Sexual orientation
- Dealing with attractions
- Loneliness
- Signs of sexual compulsivity
- Friendships and community life,
- Healthy sexual boundaries,
- Intimacy
- Spirituality and sexuality.
This workshop is also appropriate for on-going formation in congregations.
For Those In Later Formation
Dr. Kathy Galleher currently directs a 4 year post-novitiate program for the Washington Area Formation Network , “Healthy Sexuality and Intimacy in Consecrated Life”. This program of formation goes into greater depth on the topics presented in the initial workshop (above). Workshops have both didactic and discussion components.
- Level I: Sexual Self-Awareness and Self Acceptance: focuses on tools for greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and integrity in attending to one’s sexual energies. There is an in-depth look at the family and cultural messages that shaped one’s current sexuality. It provides practical tools for deepening sexual self-awareness and living integrated celibate sexuality.
- Level II: Challenges in Celibate Sexuality: focuses on common areas of struggle and conflict in celibate sexuality including attractions, loneliness, and falling in love. We also discuss sexual compulsivity and the impact of sexual abuse on individuals in religious life or priesthood.
- Level III: Intimacy and Community Life: focuses on developing skills for healthy, close, and emotionally sustaining relationships both inside and outside of community.
- Level IV: Transitions and Self-Care: focuses on skills for transition into full-time ministry for those students in their final year. This includes an in-depth look at transitions, saying goodbye, self-care, and boundaries. There is also a special focus on the challenges in the first 5 years of ministry.
For Formation Teams
Healthy sexual integration is a challenging formation topic, requiring special sensitivity, skills, and a courageous spirit!
We have workshops especially designed for formation teams to address the professional and personal challenges of working with sexual issues in formation. We pay special attention to the cultural context of the formation process. We create opportunities for formators to increase their comfort level in working with sexual issues and to receive support for deepening their personal integration. These are appropriate for both new and seasoned formation team members.
Dr. Kathy Galleher presents this workshop annually to the international formators group in the Institute for Religious Formation. She has also presented for the “ForMission” program of the Religious Formation Conference.
Topics include:
- How to create an open and supportive atmosphere around sexuality in formation
- Indicators of sexual integration and non-integration in candidates
- Addressing sexual orientation
- Men’s and women’s sexual issues
- Recognizing and addressing signs of past abuse and compulsivity
- Supporting candidates through difficult situations like attractions and falling in love
- Maintaining healthy boundaries with those in formation.
