Violeta LMSW-c, EMDR Therapy & Community Education

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

The Psychological & S*xual Impacts of Purity Culture

February 28 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PST
$30.00 – $50.00
CLASS DESCRIPTION

This presentation examines purity culture through a psychological, relational, and sexual health lens. Drawing on clinical experience, feminist theory, and contemporary research, participants will explore how purity culture functions as a form of sexual socialization that affects nervous system regulation, self-concept, attachment patterns, and sexual wellbeing across the lifespan. Special attention is given to the ways purity culture intersects with race, gender, power, and trauma, and how clinicians can avoid unintentionally reinforcing these harms in therapeutic settings.

Learning Objective:

This course / training will examine purity culture’s impact on sexuality and sexual health by utilizing a psychological and relational lens by identifying core tenants, describing impacts, and examining institutional, systemic, and structural oppressions connected to purity culture.

Enduring Understandings:

-Purity culture is not merely a belief system but a form of sexual coercion that shapes nervous system responses, identity formation, attachment, and relational safety

-Healing from purity culture is not solely about re-education. -Healing from purity culture requires embodied, relational, and trauma-informed approaches which address how to move shame out of the nervous system

-Clients impacted by purity culture often struggle to move through shame not because they are “resistant” or “avoidant,” but because their nervous systems hold learned beliefs around the dangers of desire.


Learning Outcomes:

-Identify and explain core tenants of purity culture’s impact on how psychological development, sexual identity, and relational dynamics are shaped

-Describe the shame, sexual avoidance or compulsivity, dissociation, vaginismus, low desire, and attachment distress associated with purity culture

-Examine the intersections of purity culture with patriarchy, gendered racism, and power, and understand how impacts differ across identities.

Essential Questions:

What impact does purity culture have on our psychological development, sexual identity, and relationship dynamics?
How does shame, sexual avoidance or compulsivity, and other impacts of purity culture emerge?
In what ways does purity culture uphold various forms of oppression?


About the Instructor

Rachel Overvoll is a Somatic S*x and Intimacy Coach and published author, living in Hawaii. Since leaving religion, Rachel has considered the open roads her church. Using her credentials from the Somatica Institute and Kinsey Institute, she works through the mediums of embodiment and self attunement to help clients step into the power of an authentic and pleasure centered life. Rachel is passionate about working with clients to move beyond shame, experience safety in their bodies, and live a life embodied in pleasure.

https://www.anteuppd.com/event/the-psychological-sexual-impacts-of-purity-culture/

02/06/2026

Oftentimes when people ask "how are you?", we so naturally respond with "fine." But what if we slowed down at times, and really thought about the answer? These days, when that question gets posed to me I notice I can get stuck.

Why?

Because I'm so often thinking about how my toddler is and that I unconsciously assume "if he's fine then I'm fine."

As a mom . . .
As a Black woman . . .
As a partner . . .
As a former co-caregiver of my father before his passing (and prior) . . .
As a person who grew up overly exposed to the negative impact of alcoholism . . .

There are so many parts and roles that I/ we have in society that may implicitly (or explicitly) encourage us to minimize our own feelings.

Of course, this doesn't need to be a bad thing. It makes sense to be concerned with the feelings and needs of people we care about like our friends, kids, partners, neighbors, or parents etc. We need more of this in the world!

But what happens when concern becomes persistent worry? What happens if that worry leads to loss sleep for several consecutive nights? What happens when our demonstration of love shows up more hyper vigilant than we intended but we feel like we are simply being protective? How do we find that line?

Or perhaps, minimizing our feelings became a strategy we learned and used when attempting to withstand unsafe conditions and unsafe people.

-

Almost a decade ago, I created this graphic below. I was reflecting even then on how we go about asking others how they are/ being asked how we are and how common it is to say "fine" (or some other comparable shorthand response) whether to a stranger or a friend.

I was thinking then what I'm thinking now - sometimes, we're not fine.

We're actually feeling persistently anxious or experiencing a depressive episode. For those who struggle with substances, some may be so stressed that as a result they experience an urge or craving that they actually hadn't had in months.

Sometimes when we're not doing fine, it takes some reading between the lines and "hearing with the ears behind the ears" to recognize we're not okay or that someone in front of us is not okay.

-

Here's what the Congressional Causes for Black Women and Girls stated in their March 2017 report.

"Historical trauma, race-related conflicts, and the tendency to avoid talking openly about general well-being were cited as factors that lead Black women to have higher cortisol levels, a stress hormone that raises the risk for many physical and mental health problems, including depression. In addition, Black communities experience higher rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as a byproduct of violence and discrimination." - Shelly Starkey

I'm wishing y'all gentleness, warmth, and a listening ear from someone you hold dear today.

Violeta
www.violeta-emdr.com

02/04/2026

Thank you Amy Winebarger for your support and follow!!

02/03/2026

Thank you Elessa S Arnold for your support and following! Happy Black History Month to you!

02/03/2026

I'm moderating my relationship with social media and online spaces, and recovering from a cold! But I want to pop on and share the new freebies page on my website. If you want to lay your eyes on something digital, but want that something to feel soft and intentional - take a look.

12/27/2025

Interested in joining 'The Hush Harbor 'monthly newsletter focused on Black heart care, healing, and mental health? This month's newsletter explores the history of hush harbors on Turtle Island, two unfounded psychological disorders used to undermine African-American efforts towards liberation during enslavement, poetry, and reflection questions for your own journey.

Subscribe here: https://www.violeta-emdr.com/contact

12/08/2025

Thank you Alyssia Hence for supporting the page!!

12/05/2025

Thank you Healthy Therapy and Wellness Center for the support!

12/03/2025

Spiritual Wellness Resource for Black Lives - "Black Contemplative Prayer Summit":

https://www.blackcontemplativesummit.com

Deepening the Well of Black Contemplative Wisdom:

"Join us for the Second Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, a gathering of Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders who will guide us into deeper waters of contemplative prayer and practice.

This summit is designed for everyone, led by Black voices, and dedicated to deepening the well of contemplative wisdom within community. Building on the foundation of the inaugural summit, this year turns inward and downward, into the rich wisdom of Black contemplative voices and focuses on healing, wholeness, and cultivating inner sanctuary for ourselves and our communities."

Black Contemplative Prayer Summit 2025 Recordings Join us for a transformative experience at the First Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, where we bring together Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders to lead a powerful and enriching dialogue on prayer and practice. This summit is desi...

12/01/2025

SAVE THE DATE and please share!

The People’s Potluck will take place on December 13th from 1–4 PM at the Detroit Food Commons (8324 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202) on the second floor.

People all over Detroit are struggling right now, and the need for us to come together, to gather, organize, and share a hot meal has never been greater. The Riverwise Collective has partnered with Y-VAC (Young Voices Action Collective), BYP100, the Grand River Community Block Club, and local Detroit urban farmers to bring you The People’s Potluck!

Join us for an afternoon of community care and creativity! We’ll break bread together as we hear from local poets, make zines, enjoy music, and learn about food sovereignty as community safety.

Bring a dish (with all ingredients noted) if you can, and please bring anyone who could use shelf-stable food, a warm coat, personal hygiene items, or new socks and gloves. Donations accepted at the event or ahead of time at locations provided.

We’ll have Riverwise Magazines, social justice publications, and zines for you to take home as well.

Starting December 1st, drop-off boxes will be set up throughout the city for donations of shelf-stable food, gently used or new coats, new socks, and gloves. Each box will be clearly labeled for canned goods, coats, gloves, socks, and dry goods.

Donation Drop-Off Locations & Times (Donations should be left in bins on the porches that are marked at these locations)

Valerie Jean – 327 Woodland, Detroit, MI

Megan Douglass – 1731 Atkinson St., Detroit, MI

Dain Evans – 826 Leroy St., Ferndale, MI

Boggs Center – 3061 Field Street, Detroit, MI — Fridays (11–3 PM)

YVAC Headquarters – 16326 Harper Ave., Detroit, MI 48206 — Wednesdays & Saturdays (12–3 PM)

Grand River Community Block Club – 11076 Cloverlawn, Detroit, MI 48202

Tiffany Harris – 4212 Edgewood St., Dearborn Heights, MI 48125

Ilene Street Block Club – 17134 Ilene St., Detroit, MI 48221

If you have any questions, would like to share your talents (music, poetry, etc.), or would like to contribute in any way, please contact Valerie Jean at 313-704-5150.

We look forward to being in community with you! Please invite your family, your neighbors, and your people. Let’s care for each other and build a culture of mutual aid.

WE GOT US!