Georgia. Clinical Sexologist & Sex Coach in Training

Georgia is a twenty-nine-year old Clinical Sexologist and Sex Coach (in training) from London. She has been in the Sexology industry for two years.

How did you get into your field? What inspired you?

‘I launched a digital platform called ‘G’s Spot’ two years ago as a ‘side hustle’ whilst working as a TV Producer in the advertising industry. G’s Spot is all about opening up honest conversations about female sexual pleasure, whilst shining a spotlight on female sexuality.’

‘I was inspired to launch the platform after a friend of mine revealed that she was seeing a sex therapist, subsequently sparking very frank and vulnerable conversations about sex among my friendship group. We’d known each other for 15 years but we had never spoken about sex and our pleasure like this before. One friend’s ability to be vulnerable about her sexual concerns triggered a domino effect, we all had things to share. It was very powerful and moving, and it inspired me to start reading and researching around the topic of female sexual pleasure. I eventually carried out my own research about female sexuality - my survey was completed by almost 600 women - and I used my results to write the first ‘season’ of articles on G’s Spot. Since then, I’ve been committed to normalising conversations about female sexuality via G’s Spot content, events, workshops and collaborative work with different brands within the ‘sexual wellness’ industry.’

‘Last year, I enrolled in a two year clinical sexology and sex coaching course, and I have balanced my studies alongside freelancing as a TV Producer in advertising agencies. The transition from TV Producer to Sex Coach is something I will need to carefully balance and manage in the coming years, until I can support myself sufficiently in the sex coaching world. Once I am a certified sex coach, I will be able to take on clients with sexual concerns to work with them professionally and ethically on a 1:1 basis. The world of sex coaching is diverse, creative and flexible: you can dream big and carve the career you want. There are no two sex coaches with identical jobs! I don’t want to turn my back on my production skills or experience, so my strategy is to integrate my production expertise into the sex coaching and sexual wellness space. For example, I’m currently in the very early stages of producing a woman’s festival for 2021 which I’m very excited about!’

What did you study at university and did this help you get into your field?

‘I studied Social History at university, specialising in the history of women and the history of sex in my final two years. My intrigue in women and sex was definitely apparent back then, but this topic of interest only resurrected six years later (after I had established my career as a TV Producer in the advertising industry).’

Do you recommend any particular studies, courses or degrees for your field?

‘Whilst there are some ‘sex experts’ out there who haven’t had long-term training, I personally feel that it isn’t ethical to advise people about such a loaded and vulnerable subject without comprehensive, extended training. I have been training under Dr Patti Britton - dubbed the original pioneer and ‘Godmother’ of sex coaching - at SCU which is a well-respected, online ‘school’ based in America. The material is all online but the course includes a lot of community interaction and support, with weekly ‘live’ lectures and check-ins.’

What does an average day look like in your role?

‘When I was freelancing as a TV Producer, I would fit my sex coaching studies and my work for G’s Spot around my day job. That meant studying, writing, posting on the G’s Spot platform and hosting workshops in the evenings and on weekends. However, the nature of freelance work afforded me the flexibility to take a bit of time off working in advertising - last year I was able to dedicate two months to my sex coaching work.’

‘This year, I have focused solely on my sex coaching studies and on establishing myself as an expert in this field. My average day includes: a few hours of studying and completing coursework, emailing and connecting with other professionals in the world of sexology and sexual wellness, preparing for workshops and events, and producing content for the G’s Spot platform.’

What is the best part of your role?

‘The best part of my role is that I’m building myself a career in a field that I’m really passionate about and where I’m able to help other women. Making a difference to people’s intimate relationships fills me with genuine joy.’

‘I also love the freedom, the creativity and the flexibility that my sex coaching role allows. Especially in this current climate, where everything is conducted online, I am able to bring my work anywhere with me. I was lucky enough to work in Australia at the beginning of the year, where I was able to do all my studying, my G’s Spot work and host online workshops. Once I am a qualified and established sex coach, I will be able to conduct my client sessions anywhere online and one day I would really like travel to host women’s retreats internationally.’

’Doing the work I do, I get to meet and and learn from women of different ages and backgrounds, and it is a huge privilege. Women are so powerful when they come together, share their wisdom and raise each other up. This is something I want to bring to more womens’ lives.’

What is the worst part of your role?

‘Working solo can be tricky and sometimes it can feel a bit lonely - especially when it stands in stark contrast to my production job which is so social and busy.’

’Another challenge is that when it comes to carving your career as a sex coach, there is no rule book, no process, no single job or task to complete. I am constantly learning new skills to execute my ideas (from learning how to edit video content to learning how to pitch to brands for financial sponsorship) which is exciting but it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. I think this is part and parcel of starting out alone, carving a new direction and career for yourself. You have to stay positive that it will all pay off!’

How important is work/life balance to you and how much spare time do you have?

‘Very important! When you work for yourself, you have to be very strict about having “down time”, otherwise work can easily bleed into the evenings and weekends. Whilst doing my TV Producer work alongside my sex coaching work, my leisure time is harder to balance and I often work on weekends and in the evenings. It’s a matter of managing your time properly and juggling things efficiently so that you don’t burn out.’

Do you have any hobbies?

‘I love boxing! I try to get to the boxing gym three times a week.’

Do you have any advice for people looking to start a career in the same field?

‘If you want to give other people advice about sex, I’d definitely advise getting a qualification - in sex counselling, sex coaching, sex therapy etc. My advice for anyone wanting to start a side hustle is to JUST DO IT! It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get out there and execute those ideas. Absolutely nothing will happen unless you take action.’

Have you ever experienced any uncertainties about your career? What did you do to overcome them?

‘I experience uncertainty about my career all the time! It’s all part of the journey, but it can be hard to feel confident.’

‘To overcome these feelings, I’ve done a few things: I started ‘The Artist’s Way’ which is a book by Julia Cameron which helps people gain self-confidence in harnessing their creative talents and skills. It’s been amazing and I’ve had a few little breakthroughs whilst doing it. I have also started concentrating on ‘collaborative work’ - working with other people in the field is both fun and confidence boosting. For example, I’ve just launched a weekly ‘woman’s wellness’ workshop with a friend of mine who is a yoga teacher. I also remind myself to ‘just do it’ - even if it feels uncomfortable or messy and not perfect! You have to lean into the discomfort, because ultimately you only grow when you get out of your comfort zone.’

Who is your biggest female inspiration and why?

‘Right now, it’s Dr Patti Britton - the “Godmother of Sex Coaching” and the woman who runs my training course. She is a seriously impressive lady and has dipped her toe into so many enterprises and ventures: from charity work, to directing and producing sex coaching films; from writing books to running a successful clinical practice and sex coaching school. She’s in her mid-70s and still going very strong. She’s amazing.’