Humanistic views on sexuality
Human sexuality is a ‘bio-psychosocial phenomenon’ including creativity, self-esteem, self-expression and playfulness. It is not just about physiological functioning, but includes sexual identity, which informs sexual desire and sexual behaviour and spirituality, including religious and philosophical beliefs. A humanistic practitioner would also acknowledge the social and political construction of sexuality and the constraints this places on people. Sexuality can be seen as a metaphor for life—how do we get excited by something, build a charge and allow the giving and receiving of pleasure? How easy do we find it to surrender and let go, to experience satiation and bask in the afterglow, in all areas of our life?