A Brief Guide to Anxiety: Part 3
Getting Started with Pleasure Map
“Anxiety is a smoke detector that requires a little care and attention to disarm.” -Sebastian Wright
Creating a sense of safety has always been imperative throughout my years as a sexuality practitioner, and forms a cornerstone for all the work I do at Pleasure Map.
Feeling safe is essential for creating an environment in which relaxation, exploration and discovery can be fostered, so supporting clients with their anxiety is a necessity. In Part III: Getting Started with Pleasure Map, I’ll give you an insight into the Pleasure Map approach, and how I ensure clients feel supported with their anxiety from the very beginning.
Your Comfort Zone
When I was a child, during a visit to my local swimming pool, I leapt enthusiastically into the deep end. I didn’t think twice about jumping in and was completely unaware of how deep it was. Being caught totally off guard, I quickly found myself flailing around, gargling “Help!”, feeling as though I would imminently drown. Thankfully, I was pulled to safety by a significantly better swimmer; a boy not much older than me. I had learnt an important lesson!
Growth happens when we step out of our comfort zone and embrace our vulnerability, but it’s important to understand our limits and where our edge is. From this point, we can gradually expand the boundary of our comfort zone in a safe and sustainable way and reduce the risk of causing more harm. Safety is paramount.
At Pleasure Map, supporting my clients with learning about their comfort zone is itself an informative process that contributes to the development of their anxiety profile.
In Part II: Managing Anxiety, I invited you to ask a series of questions of yourself and your relationship with anxiety so you can begin to build an anxiety profile. This kind of self-inquiry is a grossly underutilised tool, yet a tool that can be so enlightening when we embark on any journey of self-development.
I’d like to invite you once again to engage in self-inquiry by asking yourself the following questions:
What is my pace?
What is my comfort zone?
Where is my edge?
How much can I safely step out of my comfort zone?
What resources can I use to bring me back to my comfort zone if I stray too far?
The Discovery Call
The discovery call is the first meet and greet. It is a no obligation opportunity to have an informal discussion, either over zoom or by phone call, with the aim of exploring whether Pleasure Map is going to be the right path for you.
We’ve already touched on the importance of taking your time and finding the right pace to suit you and your needs, and that’s no different here. During this introductory call clients are encouraged to only share as little or as much about themselves they feel comfortable with. The same applies when completing the contact form on my website, if this is the chosen avenue getting in touch.
How can the Discovery Call help with anxiety?
First off, I want to shine a light on the fact that asking for support is one of the most vulnerable things any human being can do, and it can take a great deal of courage. This first, all important step can feel like a giant leap that takes an immense amount of strength to accomplish. On top of that, it can feel quite terrifying at the best of times, let alone if you experience a lot of anxiety.
If anxiety is part of your experience, the Discovery Call is the perfect opportunity to:
Share about your experience and current understanding of your anxiety;
Learn more about how I support clients with anxiety issues;
Explore the Pleasure Map methodology;
Begin to build trust in me and my process;
Clarify whether Pleasure Map is the best pathway for you.
And that concludes the A Brief Guide To: Anxiety series! If after reading this series you feel you could benefit from utilising the support I provide at Pleasure Map, then I encourage you to get in touch by following one of the links below. Introduce yourself, we’ll arrange a Discovery Call, and explore the prospect of starting your Pleasure Map journey!
Disclaimer: This blog is designed to be an informative guide and should not be taken as medical advice.