Meet the Coach
Hi there! I'm Emily West.
I’m a Somatic Sexologist / Sexuality, Intimacy and Relationship Coach with 20+ years in social services and a passion for helping others live their most satisfying and pleasurable lives.
I feel so lucky to be doing this important and satisfying work! My father was a psychologist specialized in sexuality and relationships, so it appears to be a family calling. I grew up surrounded by sex textbooks and research, and then discovered pioneering sex-positive writers (like Carol Queen). My mother was a dancer, so I also grew up in my body. I became a “pleasure warrior” at a young age, and a lifelong student of relationships and sexuality.
I have a deep love and respect for people, a lot of experience and knowledge around sex, and provide a non-judgemental space . It is my aim to create a space for you to fully claim your body and your pleasure.
Specialities
● Increased self esteem, confidence, body awareness and appreciation
● Uncovering triggers, feelings of shame, and old patterns, as well as how to disarm them
● Understanding attachment styles and helping to move towards secure attachment
● Meeting new people and dating
● Finding/understanding your desire and arousal systems and how to have sex you actually want
● Desire discrepancy/dwindling desire in couples
● Sacred sexuality, energy practices, embodiment
● Ethical non-monogamy, kink, roleplay
● Navigating boundaries and consent
● Coming out at 2SLGBTQIA+
● Gender dysphoria and transition
● Sex and menopause; sex as a senior
● Sex for busy parents
● Sex education in general
More about Emily:
Education and Training: Emily is a Certified SomaticaⓇ Sex and Relationship Coach through Somatica Institute, and an American Board of Sexologist Certified Sexologist. She is a Registered Social Worker, with an Honours Bachelors in Social Work, McGill University (2007) where she became skilled in human psychodynamics, counselling and the socio-economics factors around wellness, trauma, and systemic issues. Emily also has an Honours Bachelors degree in Religious Studies, with minors in Film Studies and Women’s Studies, at Concordia University (2001), where she presented her thesis work at a graduate conference, exhibited artwork in many forms (including dance, installation) and filled up with knowledge of world religions. She completed Life Skills Coach training through YWCA in 2010. Emily has many additional certificates including Assist, Mental Health First Aid, and Trauma-Informed Care as well as trainings and practice with anti-racism, neurodiversity, trans care, and more.
Lastly, Emily has attended many sexually themed conferences and events, such as those offered by the International School of Temple Arts and is well versed in “alternative” sexual communities (polyamorous, kink), as well as erotica and sex toys.
Work Background: Emily has been a Registered Social Worker since 2007. She spent 16 fulfilling years working for KEYS Newcomer and Employment Services, as a fluently bilingual (French/English) Service Delivery Coordinator (etc.), running various large scale programs for at-risk youth, young adults and adults. Her special focus was on queer/trans, newcomers and/or disabled clients. Emily also led creative and experiential workshops on life skills / stress management for KEYS clients.
Prior to Social Work, Emily worked in alternative high schools. Emily was also a marriage celebrant/officiant for several years, performing 27 weddings and 2 baby namings, and had security clearance to perform weddings in prisons.
Volunteer Experience: Emily is a longtime Reelout Queer Film and Video Festival volunteer and taught “Reelout in Schools” workshops. Emily currently co-facilitates a Unitarian youth group. She also co-led empowerment camps for self-identified girls through McGill University. She spent a year as a weekly volunteer “Sexpert” at the Sexual Health Resource Centre at Queens University, and has supported the work of the Queens Sage Lab by being a participant in their Juniper-C arousal study.
Other Interesting Facts: Emily has a piece based on the creation of her non-traditional family published in: Swelling with Pride, Queer Conception and Adoption Stories (2018), which included doing a reading tour. She has 13+ years of co-parenting experience as one of two moms (plus an active donor/friend) of two kids, one of whom is Autistic. She was the 3rd place winner of Weblog Awards for Pineapple Pieces (2012) on fertility and parenting (in the Religion, Spirituality and Philosophy category). Emily is qualified as a Level 2 Reiki practitioner, teaches Contact Improv Dance, is part of a Burlesque dance troupe, and co-leads Ecstatic Dance events on the local beach.
Emily West is a cisgendered, white, able-bodied woman, descended from European settlers, who brings a lifetime of lived experience as a queer woman.