Episode Overview

Welcome to Episode 58 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am speaking with Dana Nelson, an American psychologist and counselor living and practicing in Lyon, France (Rhône-Alpes region).

In this episode Dana talks about the common challenges long distance relationships place on sexual relationships, establishing and understanding boundaries and using technology to stay sexual in a long-distance relationship.

An expat herself, she moved to Lyon from Pennsylvania in 2014 to join her French partner. Before they met in graduate school, she never dreamed of moving to France — but now here she is, on an international adventure!

Dana’s specialization in working with expats and intercultural couples has emerged from her own life experience. Still navigating her own expat journey every day, she knows that life abroad is full of both adventures and many (many!) challenges. However, she also believes that this experience of living abroad — which takes us out of our element and calls into question many things we have taken for granted about ourselves and the world — can provide us with truly unique opportunities to learn about ourselves and to grow both as individuals and in our relationships.

Highlights

Navigating a long distance relationship
Relational aspects of long distance relationships
What goes on outside the bedroom impacts sexuality
Common challenges in long distance relationships
Balancing prioritizing the relationship and living your own lives
Discussing what is crossing the line
Communication in long distance relationships
Growing closer or growing apart via long distance relationships
Sex and technology
Ways people can stay sexual in long distance relationships
Yes, no and maybe lists
Talking about fantasies
Being safe with technology
Personal responsibility for sexual satisfaction
Sexual frustration

“Having an end date in sight, even if it’s a way off, helps a lot. It feels more manageable to deal with a situation if it feels temporary.”

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Dr. Dana Nelson

“There are different means of communication that may make some of us more or less comfortable.”

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Dr. Dana Nelson

“It’s harder to be in a casual long distance relationship.”

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Dr. Dana Nelson

About Dr. Nazanin Moali

Dr. Nazanin Moali is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist in the Los Angeles area. She has assisted individuals with sexual and relationship issues. She has also helped many couples keep their relationship strong and steamy while doing long distance. Dr. Moali conducts confidential consultation sessions in her Torrance and Hermosa Beach offices or via a secure video-counseling platform online.

About Dr. Dana Nelson

Dana works with English-speaking adults and adolescents, providing individual counseling and psychotherapy, couples and relationship counseling, and group therapy.

She specializes in working with expats, international students, and others living abroad (both adults and adolescents) who are struggling with emotional and psychological difficulties and who want to develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion, feel more grounded, and develop more meaningful and satisfying connections with those around them. She also specializes in working with intercultural couples and couples whose relationships have been impacted by their life abroad.