Dr. Julie Merriman is a licensed mental health clinician, counselor educator, burnout researcher, author and speaker. As the founder of the Soul Joy™ brand, she serves as a premier authority for women over 50 navigating the intersection of professional burnout and personal intimacy. With over 30 years of clinical experience and academic leadership—including tenures as a professor, department head, and associate dean—Dr. Merriman has dedicated her career to the science of human helping. Her work is deeply rooted in polyvagal theory and somatic neurobiology, providing a bridge between academic rigor and soul-led transformation.
Her personal journey through profound burnout and a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis informs her “scorched earth” approach to healing—proving that rebirth is possible at any age. She is the author of the 12-week guide, In Pursuit of Soul Joy, and the forthcoming book, Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (Available Now)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dr-Julie-Merriman-Wellness-LLC/61564870628821/
Website: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/
Her new book: Are We Gonna Have Sex or What: The Midlife Guide to Reigniting Desire, Reclaiming Your Body, and Feeling Fully Alive ( https://a.co/d/0hDtYJ5w )
Summary
In this episode, Dr. Julie Merriman explores sex-positive aging and shares practical guidance about regulating the nervous system, reconnecting with the body, and building intimacy through communication and boundaries.
Key Topics
- How stress and dysregulation affect desire
- Reconnecting with the body and processing past experiences
- Building intimacy through communication, consent, and curiosity
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 05:17 – How chronic stress can suppress desire
- 10:35 – Reconnecting with the body through self-awareness
- 17:31 – Rebuilding intimacy through co-regulation and pleasure mapping
- 23:13 – Consent, boundaries, and mutual exploration
- 31:06 – Adapting intimacy through illness, aging, and bodily changes
- 41:14 – Embracing sexuality and possibility after 50
- 43:49 – Final thoughts
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