
The Centre for Psychosexual Health (CPH) is a collaboration between Cabby Laffy, Polly McAfee and Shana Laffy. It is built around the Homeodynamic Model, conceived by Cabby as a way to understand human sexual responses through the impact on mind, emotion, body and brain.
Homeodynamic Model for Sexuality
This Homeodynamic Model also pays attention to the way relationships, family, culture and wider societal messages influence our sexual selves. It is deeply affirmative of diversity, suggesting that there is no normal or right way to be sexual, but rather inviting clients and students to discover their own sexual self-esteem and ability to make choices. It celebrates pleasure as our birth right, a healing, joyous and potentially transformative experience.
In 2006 Cabby developed a Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual Therapy to teach these radical, trauma-informed ideas to counsellors, psychotherapists and bodyworkers, and in 2013 published her book – LoveSex – an integrative model for sexual education (Karnac Books). Polly was a student of the second Diploma cohort and joined the CPH faculty in 2010. Cabby, Polly and Shana all practice as individual and relationship therapists, as well as offering training and workshops. Together they have developed their teaching to reflect developments in trauma- informed psychosexual therapy, neo-tantra, neuroscience, tech and gender identity.
Cabby and Polly are proud to announce their co-authored 10 year update of LoveSex LoveSex and Relationships – an integrative model for sexual education, will be published by Routledge, June 5th 2023 and is available to pre order from May 15th. See reviews below
OUR MODEL:
INTEGRATION
Incorporating research from neuroscience, complementary health therapies and cognitive behavioural therapy; drawing on feminist thinking and eastern sexual healing practices as well as western approaches to psychosexual therapy, to work psychotherapeutically with clients’ sexual issues.
DIVERSITY
CONGRUENCE
WELLBEING
Approaching sexual issues in terms of their therapeutic meaning and potential, supporting
clients to (re)discover themselves sexually and to develop a more conscious sexual self-esteem and enjoyment of their sexuality.
“LoveSex and Relationships takes the readers on an all-round tour of the brain, mind, body and emotions, in a jargon-free yet in-depth exploration of human sexuality and intimate relationships. Written in a warm tone and with a sex-positive philosophy, this book is the essential guide for anyone who wants to know more about sex and relationships. Cabby Laffy and Polly McAfee offer many reflective exercises that will help readers improve their sex lives and relationships. The authors expertly lift the lid on sensitive subjects that are often unspoken.”
“Love Sex and Relationships is an inclusive, up-to-date, accessible and engaging book about how sex and intimacy work. Drawing on a wide range of relevant theory and research, the authors present a compelling understanding of how mind, brain, body, and feeling work together – within our social and relational context – to shape our experience of love and desire. This book is a must-read for all sex and relationship practitioners and will be very helpful to share with clients who are grappling with these issues too.”
“I would describe this book as beautiful. It offers an accessible and inclusive way to think about human sexuality in the contemporary context, uniquely and deftly integrating science based information with an acute awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of dominant social systems. It navigates the multidimensional human experience of love, sex and relationships across cultures and identities, with the depth of consideration reflective of the authors’ extensive psychotherapeutic experience. It is beautiful and important and will immediately go to the top of our recommended reading list.”
“Pleasure-focused and sex-positive, this book pushes back against so much we are taught about sex through a shame-based model”.
WHAT WE OFFER
We offer bespoke training programmes for counselling organisations. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Certificate courses in Psychosexual Therapy and in Working with Couples and other Relationships
One day workshop Sex after Sexual Trauma
Listing of Psychosexual Supervisors (under Find a Therapist- Supervisors)
If you are looking for a therapist working within the CPH model, we have a list of therapists you can choose from.