Sakshi Tickoo, OT: OT in Sexuality
In this post, we will learn from Dr. Sakshi Tickoo (she/her). Sakshi is a brown, queer Occupational Therapist and Sexuality counselor from Mumbai, India working in the areas of sexuality, relationships, and mental health across the lifespan. She is the founder of Sex, Love, And OT—an inclusive, educational telehealth platform that focuses on sexual rights and liberation through education, centering pleasure, and facilitating freedom of occupational engagement in sexuality for people globally. She is also the author of SexCare—a self-help guide designed for solo and partnered pleasure through the use of sensations and self-care routine. Other aspects of her work include collaborating with other allies, advocates, educators, and NGOs around the world to advance sexuality education and research, sex worker and assault/abuse survivor healthcare, and advocating for sexuality in Occupational Therapy & Sciences across various practice areas and settings. In her spare time, she combines her love for technology, art, and sexuality through content creation, writing, and curating resources on Instagram. Follow her @sex.love.andot
Q & A with Sakshi:
Please tell us a little about yourself and some of your favorite occupations:
I am a person of simple pleasures. Food, books, memes, and watching tv shows & movies are my favourite occupations. I'm also a trained classical dancer and use it as a therapeutic and self-care tool.
What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?
I like to believe uncommon is my middle name given that I'm passionate about integrating sexology within occupational therapy and sciences in every sense of the way possible and what better place and person to talk about uncommon things that at UncommonOT.
Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve and the needs that you address.
At this moment, my work model is separated into three different sections. The first is centered on clinical practice. I currently see clients between the ages of 4 and 95 (my oldest client being 95) of various identities, abilities, limitations, diagnoses, and conditions. The second aspect of my work is pedagogical advancement and peer mentoring, where I work with OT schools globally and deliver lectures, and as a consultant for capstone students. I also offer one-on-one peer mentoring and educational services for healthcare professionals who wish to learn more about sexuality and how to integrate it within their practice and professional setting. Lastly, I work as a sexuality consultant, reviewer, and writer with journalists, magazines, and other sex tech brands to advance the role of occupational therapy and other allied healthcare services in the field of sexology.
What inspired you or drew you to this type of OT work?
Genitals, the human body, and the brain have always fascinated me. I always knew I wanted to be a healthcare professional in any capacity. As my experiences and knowledge grew, so did my rebellion to find the answers to difficult questions nobody wanted to ask. It is pretty simple-if something matters to us, we will go out of our way to make some sense of it and change it for the better.
How did you get there? Can you describe your path?
I really don't know how I did. My first act of action would be an institutional level dissertation which was the first of its kind in Mumbai and India probably. Later on, working as a school-based OT, I realised how we were talking about adult sexuality but not thinking about it terms of "development" and I started incorporating some aspects of sexuality education in my interventions. But people kept DMing me through my socials asking if I take clients privately and that's when Sex, Love, And OT officially became a business and I started seeing clients privately.
Please describe a typical day or OT session at your uncommon setting? What OT skills do you utilize?
It is challenging for me to answer this question because every client and context is so different for me. However, initial assessments are essential for me because I get to understand if I am right professional for my client, the language they prefer, and so much more. But everything else, especially the interventions, unfold like any other therapeutic session through activity and occupational analysis, goal setting and reframing, and therapeutic use of self. People expect it to be something brand new, but it really is not. It is the same skills and knowledge, but applied with a different perspective to a different occupation and in a different context.
How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role?
Research, textbooks, and networking! As much as I would like to not socialize, I think would not be culturally sensitive if I did not try to meet more OTs around the world working in the spaces of sexuality.
Can you share a little bit about salary and compensation in this setting? How do OT or the services you provide get funded?
Since I work from India, insurance does not cover OT or any allied health services for that matter. Everything is paid out of the pocket by the patients. Unfortunately, in such cases, I can offer payment plans to my patients or reduce service costs occasionally based on client backgrounds and needs.
Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?
I believe that sexuality education, wellness, and rehabilitation belong in every setting and practice area. It is not optional, it is essential. A great way to get started is to start working on yourself. Understand your strengths and limitations and improve your understanding of the basics of sexuality before you enter the field. I recently had the chance to co-author a chapter in Sexuality and Intimacy: An Occupational Therapy Approach (by Dr. Ellis and Dr.Ungco), and would highly recommend all the OTPs to get this book for their personal and professional development.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?
People often think I only work with pelvic floor conditions or cater to a specific population, which I don't. I do not believe our work as OTs should be segregated in such ways unless our practice setting or area demands that. My work model is focused on sexual rehabilitation and wellness, and the medium is telehealth and home healthcare. Hence, I offer my services to all age groups and populations with various identities, abilities, limitations, disabilities, diagnoses, and conditions.
How do we find you , follow you, be in touch with you, and promote your unique work?
The best way to connect with me is via my email- sex.love.andot@gmail.com. Other ways to stay in touch or follow my work include:
Website: https://www.sexloveandot.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/sex.love.andot/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SexLoveAndOT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sexloveandot
SexCare Book (Paperback & Kindle versions):
https://www.amazon.com/SexCare-wellness-creative-workbook-partnered-ebook/dp/B09YMB2CYS
Sexuality & OT Merchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/SexLoveAndOT/shop?asc=u&ref=account-nav-dropdown
Horn OT Podcast (India's 1st Occupational Therapy Podcast): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hornotplease
As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot
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