ABOUT ME
I’m Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton. I am a sex educator, sex researcher, and university professor on the East Coast of Canada. I began as a sex educator in 2002 and since then have dedicated much of my time and energy to learning more about sex! One thing I love about being a sex researcher and educator is that there is always more to learn. Sex and relationships are complex, multi-faceted, and, to me, endlessly fascinating. I love working with others to expand their understanding and communication about their own sex and relationships.
I have a Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience) from the University of Texas at Austin, where I studied stress, sex, and (non)monogamy. I am originally from Surrey, BC, a born and raised “Surrey girl.” My undergraduate degree was a BA in Psychology and English from Simon Fraser University in BC. I began working as a sex educator and researcher in Vancouver, BC in 2002. Although I am from the West Coast, I have been delighted to make the East Coast of Canada, specifically Sackville, NB, my home for the last decade.
I think sex education needs to be nonjudgmental for people to feel safe. Part of my nonjudgmental approach is to enter conversations about sex with curiosity first. You can read about my first real breakthrough experience as a sex educator.
By day, I teach about sex at the university level, and my students often comment on my matter-of-fact nature when it comes to sex. I think that talking about sex frankly helps take the shame out of it. My comfort, curiosity, and direct approach help others feel comfortable talking about sex and sexual desires. After almost 2 decades working in sex research and education, there is very little I have not heard before, so you don’t need to worry about shocking me!
A big concern of mine is the misinformation and lack of information about sexuality. Lack of accurate knowledge about sex is both a cause of and consequence of our inability to communicate about sexuality at both a societal and individual level. Sexuality can be a source of shame and discomfort for people. Whether you experience giggles from nervous jitters or struggle with deeply held shame, I want to create safe educational spaces that allow for more ease and pleasure with sex. I believe that pleasure is your right.
As a sex geek and a scientist, I also work hard to counter misinformation by digging into research on various topics about sex. I do this on the blog and also on my podcast, Do We Know Things? – available for download wherever you get your podcasts. Although my work is informed by science and research, I also believe that each person is the expert of their own lived experiences.
I am passionate about understanding trauma and learning trauma-informed practices. I learned bits about trauma over the years, but had my first real breakthrough understanding of how trauma affects people’s brains, bodies, and behaviour attending a presentation by Sex Ed East educator, Lindsay Sherwood. Since then, I have been obsessed with learning as much as possible about trauma.
I believe that the sex education that happens in our schools and our mainstream media is inadequate and, at times, harmful. I provide sex education for adults who want to learn more about themselves, their bodies, and their partners. My focus is on the Atlantic Canada region. I offer sex education for people living in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
I offer workshops and 1-on-1 sessions on the following topics:
Sex Ed for Grownups 101
Unlearning sexual shame
Sex and relationships with prostate cancer
Sex Education Skills for Parents
Talking to your kids about porn
Understanding sexual diversity for therapists and health professionals
Treating clients with porn usage problems (for treatment providers)
Kink and BDSM for Beginners
Navigating Nonmonogamy