The Art of Intimacy: Reclaiming Desire, Healing Trauma & Deepening Connection (The Velvet)
Velvet's Edge with Kelly Henderson
iHeartPodcasts
4.6 • 924 Ratings
🗓️ 12 February 2025
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We've all been taught to work on our careers, our health, and our personal growth—but when it comes to relationships, intimacy, and sex, many of us assume things should just click with the right person. But what if intimacy is a skill—one that we can develop and refine?
In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Harel, Ph.D., and Celeste Hirschman, M.A., co-founders of the Somatica® Institute, to explore how experiential learning can transform the way we approach love, connection, and desire. We break down:
- Why intimacy is a skill, not just chemistry—and how to practice it in everyday life
- How trauma shapes desire and how to reclaim sexual energy after past wounds
- The crucial role of relationship repair in building trust, emotional safety, and deeper passion
- The psychology of arousal—how early experiences shape attraction and desire
- The surprising link between sexual fulfillment and overall health—from stress reduction to immune function
- How breaking free from shame around sex can lead to greater confidence and personal empowerment
Plus, Danielle and Celeste share insights from their books—Making Love Real, Coming Together, and Confidence—and details on new Somatica classes launching for Valentine's Day.
Check out their website: Somatica Institute
Find them on Instagram: @somaticainstitute
HOST: Kelly Henderson // @velvetsedge // velvetsedge.com
Follow Velvet's Edge on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velvetsedge/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Conversations on life, style, beauty, and relationships. |
| 0:05.0 | It's the Velvet's Edge Podcast with Kelly Henderson. |
| 0:11.0 | Dr. Danielle Harrell and Celeste Hirschman are pioneers in intimacy, sexuality, and relationship |
| 0:17.8 | coaching. |
| 0:18.9 | They're the co-founders of Somatica Institute. |
| 0:23.9 | They've transformed how love and connection are taught through their experiential science-based somatica method, |
| 0:27.3 | which we will get into. |
| 0:29.3 | Together, they've trained over 1,000 coaches, |
| 0:31.4 | and helped countless individuals and couples embrace vulnerability, |
| 0:34.6 | rediscover desire, and create deeply fulfilling relationship. |
| 0:39.4 | Hi, guys. |
| 0:40.0 | Thank you so much for being here. |
| 0:42.0 | Hi. |
| 0:42.4 | Thank you so much for having us. |
| 0:44.3 | Excited to be here. |
| 0:46.1 | Well, these are some of my favorite topics. |
| 0:48.1 | And as I was talking about with you guys before, this is the perfect week for this with |
| 0:52.4 | Valentine's Day. |
| 0:53.1 | I think February is one that most people |
| 0:55.5 | associate with either love, dating, relationships, sex, any of that. So we are here to bring |
| 1:01.7 | listeners topics of all of these things. I wanted to start because one of the things I talk about |
| 1:07.3 | a lot on this podcast is I think it's so interesting in our society that |
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