Dr. Alissa Gardenhire: Love, Intimacy and Trust: A Public Matter

In this talk Gardenhire will discuss what is—and what is possible—for human intimacy. Today too many of us live at arm’s length from one another. Many people, adults, children, singles, marrieds, family members, and friends walk the earth heartbroken and fearful of connecting with others. Behind the veil of computers, tablets, phones and the virtual realities of social media we are socially disconnected. We hide behind our gadgets or our roles and from there we are “safe” but alone. From there too many of us are unable to ever truly know or be known by another. While gadgets and technology are easy to blame, the true source of our isolation is ourselves. We hide because intimacy, love and trust are risky and downright scary to most.
But love and intimacy are what we all truly desire. It is human to want to love and be loved, know and be known by another. These are our basic necessities for our lives and true wellbeing. Brené Brown, author and expert who writes about vulnerability, courage, shame and authenticity writes “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Yet without a shock to the way things are we will continue down the road of shallow connections, technological camouflage and broken heartedness. I’ve found in my work that even people in long term relationships, marriages and other family relationships can be virtual strangers to one another and most strangers never will become friends if we don’t learn to get comfortable with intimacy. Without intimacy we don’t truly live.
Everybody talks about connection and intimacy but no one is doing anything about it. As an international love and intimacy guru and coach, I had to take a stand for Love, Intimacy and Trust. Closeness, connection and intimacy MATTER.
Dr. Alissa Gardenhire is an international love, intimacy and sexuality coach working with individuals, couples and groups to create better communication around intimacy in all its forms, with a goal of improving how people relate, are true to themselves in their relationships and get the pleasure life has to offer them through their strengthening ability to be intimate and connect with others. For her, connection and intimacy are life.