With Launch of New Website, Contemporary Sexuality Goes Through Some Changes of Its Own

Our organization has always prided itself on providing valuable content to its members: content that informs, content that strengthens careers, content that strengthens our community. Last year, we realized that in order to continue being an asset to our members, it was time we updated our website, and updated the ways in which members could have access to the various features we provide.

Of course, when you decide to completely overhaul an entire website — and, beyond that, to change the face of AASECT content itself — things don't always go smoothly. And smoothing these things out can take time and lots of practice.

We're loving our website's fresh, new look. It's bright and brilliant, much like AASECT's own members. It has a variety of new features, has allowed us to simplify access to already-existing features, and looks good, too.

But it's not exactly where we want it to be yet. We're still working on adding new features, fixing glitches, and making this site into a place where you actually enjoy hanging out on a regular (maybe even daily?) basis.

We know that learning your way around a brand new site can be frustrating, especially when you've grown familiar and comfortable with what's already been there for so many years. We know that experiencing issues in accessing certain pieces of information — and being completely unable to find other things — can make you throw your hands up in the air and wish things would just go back to the way they were.

We see the same thing all the time with our clients when they come to us for sex therapy. They are tired of and frustrated with what is no longer working, and also skeptical about the suggestions we make in the interest of effecting positive change. They don't want to work to create a new normal. They want to go back to the way things were at the beginning, when things were comfortable and familiar, and still felt good.

They resist change, even though doing the hard work to change things for the better will eventually lead to greater happiness. Greater fulfillment. A stronger relationship.

We're hoping the changes we've been making will also lead to bigger and better things, all to the benefit of you, our members.

You guys have already learned some new moves that allow you to access the updated site and its various features. You've received new login info. You've wandered your way through the site's pages. You've gotten a feel for what works.

And what might need some tweaking.

Rest assured that we're open to changing things up as well and, in fact, things continue to change behind the scenes as we work on getting the site that much closer to our dream site.

Even as you read this, updates are being made to forum functionality, so as to make it even easier to generate discussion among your fellow members. New features are being considered for AASECT Express, our new blog. And our new editorial team continues to play around with the best ways in which to present various types of content.

If you continue to have issues with the website itself — login issues, suggestions for how various pages might function better for you, questions about where to find certain pieces of information — please do send an email to info@aasect.org. If you're struggling to access anything, our team will assist you. If you're emailing with suggestions, know that your ideas for website functionality are being collected and considered.

As far as content goes — features, regular columns, news items, and more — I'm working with an updated editorial team to brainstorm new types of content for you, and to get back onto a regular schedule. It is our aim to continue exploring issues of relationships, sexuality, gender, education, counseling, therapy, and more in a way that informs, inspires professional growth, and sparks some lively debate.

To that end, we've added a whole new roster of members to our editorial board, people who — on a daily basis — help me brainstorm new story ideas, seek out the best experts in the field of sexuality, and provide as much value as possible for you. I feel abundant gratitude to have a team of people who are so invested in continuing Contemporary Sexuality's tradition of high-quality content, so much so that they indulge my every frantic email with intense back-and-forth discussion, even on nights and weekends.

So let me take a moment to give thanks to the editorial board:

• Douglas Braun-Harvey, MFT, CGP, CST, AASECT Supervisor, is a certified sex therapist.
• Debby Herbenick, PhD, is an Indiana University sex researcher, Kinsey sex educator, and author.
• Dug Lee, PhD, LMHC, is a sexuality counselor.
• S. Michael Plaut, PhD, AASECT Diplomate in Sex Therapy, Certified Educator and Supervisor, has a specialty in professional-client boundaries. He is Past President of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research and Former Editor for the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy.
• Susan E. Stiritz, MBA, PhD, MSW, is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator and a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Sexuality Studies at Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis.
• Lynn Wang, MD, is a board certified gynecologist, AASECT certified sexuality counselor, and educator who practices in Pennsylvania.  Her focus is on female sexual pain disorders and sexual issues related to cancer, menopause and chronic disease.

And then there's me, Steph Auteri, your Senior Writer, who has spent a good amount of her professional life writing about sexuality, and collaborating with sexuality professionals. Feel free to email me with any ideas you have for coverage in the newsletter or on the blog. And if you're interested in writing for either one, definitely email me!

Contemporary Sexuality has been a bit slimmer these past few months. Some of the regular newsletter features — Quick Hits and Member News — have been moved to the blog, so that you can read new, newsworthy content more frequently throughout the month. We're also on the hunt for a new book review coordinator, which is why you've been seeing a bit less book coverage. But we'll be beefing things back up in the coming months.

Change can be (excruciatingly) slow. But hopefully, you'll begin to find that these new features that are slowly being rolled out enhance your enjoyment of the site and the AASECT community. Hopefully, in the end, you'll find all the changes were worth it.

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