Linda Poelzl
Linda Poelzl
I have been an educator, public speaker, writer, and coach in the field of human sexuality since 1990. I specialize in the following educational and therapeutic services:
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Surrogate Partner Therapy
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Sexological Bodywork
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Phone Coaching
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Sex Coaching for Couples
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Workshops and Lectures
I have published various articles on bisexuality, safer sex practices and surrogate partner therapy.
For more information on all these subjects, and to view my resume, click on the links below. I live & practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact me by email: Poelzl@earthlink.net
Resume
San Francisco, CA
415-282-1984
Work Experience
1990 to Present - Consultant in Human Sexuality: Educator, speaker and writer. Topics include: sex therapy, safer sex, AIDS/HIV issues, bisexuality, sexual orientation, sex and relationships, sexual diversity, and Tantric sexual practices.
1995 to Present - Surrogate Partner: Trained professional surrogate working with a variety of clients in sex therapy (in collaboration with psychotherapists).
2003 to Present - Sexological Bodyworker: Trained somatic sex educator, assisting clients in overcoming sexual difficulties and enhancing enjoyment of their sexuality.
2013 to Present - Healing Touch Certified Practitioner: Trained energy medicine practitioner, working with clients in private practice and in volunteer settings.
1998 to Present - Reiki Master/Teacher: Doing Reiki healing sessions in private practice and volunteer settings.
1978 to Present - Massage Therapist: Extensive experience in private practice with clients, including athletes, hospice patients, elders, pregnant women, and people with AIDS.
1988-1994 - Instructor: National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, CA. Duties included teaching classes in a broad range of the curriculum, including Swedish, Esalen, and Shiatsu massage; deep tissue, polarity energy work and other bodywork techniques; basic anatomy and physiology; stress-management and relaxation techniques; interpersonal and practice management skills.
Education and Certification
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality: San Francisco
Certificate in Sexological Bodywork - 2003
Certified Sexologist - 1999
Certificate in Clinical Sexology - 1998
Sexological Instructor in AIDS/STD Prevention - 1991
Associate in Sex Education - 1988
International Professional Surrogates Association - 1995 - 60-hour training
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
*President of the Bay Area Chapter of the Society for The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), 1998.
*Member of the American College of Sexologists
*Member of the International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA).
*Member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.
*Member of the American Massage Therapy Association
*The International Center for Reiki Training - Reiki membership Association Affiliate Member
*Member of the Healing Touch Professional Association
Linda Poelzl
Published Writings by Linda Poelzl
MAGAZINE ARTICLES:
"A Bisexual Love Story"
Anything That Moves, Issue 10. 1996. (6-8)
"Positive Risk, How Clear is the Choice When You Know the Risk?"
Anything That Moves, Issue 11. 1996. (7-9)
"Keeping the 'Sex' in Sex Therapy, My Work as a Surrogate Partner"
Anything That Moves, Issue 19. 1999. (36-39)
TEXTBOOK CHAPTER:
"The Bisexual in Relationships."
Sex & Relationships, An Anthology. (122-144)
Editor: John P. Elia, Ph.D.
Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. 1999.
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
"Gender Assumptions and HIV Counseling."
FOCUS Supplement, On HIV Antibody Test Counseling, Vol. 13, No. 7.
UCSF AIDS Health Project. June 1998.
"Bisexual Issues in Sex Therapy"
"A Bisexual Surrogate Partner Relates Her Experiences from the Field."
The Journal of Bisexuality, Vol. 1, No. 1. (121-142)
Editor: Fritz Klein, M.D. Haworth Press. 2001.
EROTIC FICTION:
"Confessional Blue"
Guilty Pleasures: True Tales of Erotic Indulgence. (169-176)
Editor: M. Christian
San Francisco, California: Black Books. 2002.
"Lezzies"
Tough Girls: Down and Dirty Dyke Erotica. (155-168)
Editor: Lori Selke
San Francisco, California: Black Books. 2002.
"Saturday Night in a Very Small Room"
Best Bisexual Erotica 2. (111-118)
Editors: Bill Brent & Carol Queen
San Francisco, California: Black Books. 2002.
"Waiting"
The Erotica Reader, Hot and Quick Stories to Set the Mood. (8-11)
Sinclair Intimacy Institute
Running Press. 2003.
"Endless Praise, Timeless Love"
Ageless Erotica (169-177)
Editor: Joan Price
Berkeley, California, 2013
Testimonials
Surrogate Partner Therapy - Ryan D. 2015
When I was first referred to Linda by my psychiatrist in 2007, I had gone through a couple surgeries that negatively impacted my sexual functioning. I never would have thought that I would be enjoying sex again but Linda helped me do just that. At first I couldn’t relax and my mind kept going back to negative thoughts. Linda would notice my body tension, or see that I was holding my breath and gently encourage me to relax and to breathe. She had to do that over and over again. She was extremely patient and kind.
Besides the knowledge she has about the body and sexual issues, Linda is warm and caring. Her approach is focused on helping the client to learn to feel comfortable with himself. Her rationale is that, when a client knows how to take care of himself and express his needs, he (or she) will be more able to learn to give pleasure to a partner.
Before seeing Linda, I did what many people do. I read self-help books and picked up some educational videos. But there’s no substitute for an educator like Linda. I now have the ability to enjoy sex again!
Thank you Linda!
Ryan D. 2015
Couples Sex Coaching - Harry G. & Carol K. April 2015
My friend and I have a cherished long distance relationship bridged by occasional visits. We discussed seeing some kind of sex instructor/guide while we were both in town for work. We had met Linda at a workshop on another topic several years ago and remembered her as someone we might consider to contact, and are so glad we did. My friend and I enjoy a good sexual rapport already, however punctuated with pauses due to travel limitations. And, we thought it would be good for us to have input from someone who was professional, knowledgeable, and comfortable with sexuality broadly understood and experienced.
Our interest was to push our existing boundaries and so expand our horizons. Linda proved the perfect guide for us in that. Our conversations on the phone were very straightforward, both setting us at ease and getting us excited for the weekend mini-workshop we planned. Our follow up email exchanges served to clarify our intentions and answer questions that came up along the way, while still leaving our plans open enough to shift in the moment. We were a bit nervous going in to the first session, but were put at ease when Linda turned out to be as warm, fun, sincere and straightforward in person as she was in our planning exchanges.
For my friend and I, just scheduling the workshop with Linda and getting to the door was a leap, and there was certain satisfaction in just having stretched our boundaries that far. Though we have richly explored one another, we had not done so with the kind of frank conversation and input and presence that Linda offers, and we felt good to be "out of the closet" as it were with this intimate aspect of our relationship, sex being so private a matter for most couples.
Over the course of our two back-to-back afternoon sessions we took turns exploring male and female genital massage techniques, which we took away with us as good "accessories" to integrate into our sex play. Even more importantly, we gained enhanced communication skills which enable us to be more at ease exploring the ever shifting, and sometimes quickly shifting terrain of sex, where "what feels good" in one moment might not in the next. We learned how to "roll with that" more easily and playfully as part of the landscape of sex-exploration. We also gained more ease and comfort in ourselves for having manifested the courage to expose our interests, our relationship, and our selves for feedback and input.
As a couple we highly recommend Linda as a sex-guide, she is a knowledgeable and genuine teacher, our expectations were exceeded for our experience, and we feel our own explorations are both heightened and easier for the time we spent together! Thank you Linda!
Warmly,
HG and CK
A Special Comment from Carol K. April 2015
Walking in the land of taboo is much easier with a competent guide!
Linda was the perfect guide for my friend and I to explore each other and challenge our self imposed sexual boundaries and perceived limitations.
I expected to encounter some uncomfortable moments during our sessions, but when I did, Linda's intuition and experience quickly brought us back to playful exploration and open communication. It was a rich experience that my friend and I continue to benefit from weeks after our session.
Sexological bodywork - Jeff A. 5/16/15
Linda Poelzl brings over a quarter century of experience to her work along with a multidisciplinary perspective. My own work with Linda was formally classified as sexological bodywork but many other arts went to form that whole. I found Linda sympathetic, warm, caring, and very concerned with the headspace and emotional well-being of her clients. Within her legal and personal limits she was very accommodating to both my overall goal(s) and to whatever I might need to move closer to them each session. Linda makes frequent well-being check ins with her clients and asks if changes are needed as well. You will always feel that you have her full attention. She is a true healer and genuinely wants to help.
To work most effectively with Linda you should have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve before meeting her. She will then channel her knowledge and intuition through the filter of whatever discipline\methodology the two of you are choosing to use to reach your goal. Also, feel free to ask questions and make requests. Not all such requests will be possible, however, if she is able to do so she will make every effort to accommodate her techniques to your overall goal.
She and I practiced a number of processes to improve my performance/interaction with other women. I now feel more confident in these areas. Linda is also very intuitive and works very hard to keep her clients in the moment rather than in their heads.
Jeff A.