"I don’t even know where to begin—because this experience didn’t just change one part of my life. It changed me completely.
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For most of my life, I looked like someone who had it together. I was athletic, smart, and talented in many areas of my life. From the outside, there was no obvious reason why sex, intimacy, and connection felt so hard for me. But internally, those were the areas where I struggled the most. Almost every sexual experience I had ended in confusion, anxiety, or disappointment, and over time that created deep shame. I knew it wasn’t physical. I knew something else was going on—but I didn’t know what, or how to fix it.

What I didn’t fully realize at the time was how deeply afraid I had always been to fully express myself—not just sexually, but as a person. For as long as I can remember, I had been suppressing parts of who I am out of fear of being judged, rejected, or misunderstood. I learned to keep certain parts of myself hidden, especially in intimate situations. Over time, that disconnection from my authentic self made true intimacy feel impossible.

My mind always deeply craved intimacy and connection, but I could never understand why my body would reject it. I wanted closeness, presence, and emotional and physical connection more than anything, yet my body seemed to shut down when it mattered most. That disconnect was confusing, painful, and something I carried a lot of shame around without knowing why it was happening.

Finding AIHG felt like the universe finally placing the exact right thing in front of me at the exact moment I was ready. I truly believe the universe guides us to where we’re supposed to be when we’re open enough to receive it. Looking back now, I couldn’t have found two better therapists—two better humans—who so perfectly fit me, who I am, and my beliefs to guide me through this journey. The alignment was undeniable.

From my very first interaction with Nicole and Misty, I felt something I hadn’t felt before: safety. Real safety. Not judgment. Not pressure. Just warmth, openness, and genuine care. They didn’t try to “fix” me—they took the time to truly understand me. They met me exactly where I was and walked alongside me from there.

From the beginning, I had a strong sense that this work was going to change more than just my relationship to sex and intimacy. I could feel that this was going to touch every area of my life and it completely exceeded all of my expectations.

Nicole and Misty created a space where I never once felt judged—not for my performance anxiety, not for my fears, not for my past experiences. In fact, it was the opposite. They normalized what I was going through and helped me understand that I wasn’t broken—and that I certainly wasn’t alone. There is so much unspoken shame around male performance, vulnerability, and intimacy, and they helped dismantle that shame piece by piece.

They helped me uncover the root of all of this and where it actually stemmed from. Understanding the “why” behind my performance anxiety, patterns, and reactions was one of the most eye-opening parts of this journey. It wasn’t just about managing symptoms; it was about finally seeing the full picture of how my past, my nervous system, and my mind were all connected.

Through this work, I learned that my biggest obstacle had always been my mind—and my fear of being fully seen. I was always trying to be perfect—to get everything right and never mess up—instead of enjoying myself in the moment and allowing myself to be a normal, imperfect human with flaws like everyone else. I had spent my entire life living in my head—analyzing, anticipating, and bracing for something to go wrong—especially when it came to intimacy. Pair that with a nervous system that was constantly stuck in fight-or-flight mode, and it finally made sense why my body would shut down even when my heart wanted connection so badly.

Learning nervous system regulation with Nicole has been nothing short of life-changing. For the first time, I learned what it actually feels like to be present in my body—to feel grounded, calm, and safe instead of guarded and tense. Learning how to stay present, in the moment, and out of my head has completely changed how I experience intimacy and life in general. The breathwork, embodiment practices, and somatic tools weren’t random exercises—they were intentional, deeply thought-out practices that slowly rewired my nervous system and how I experience myself and the world.

For the first time in my life, I’m able to trust my natural instincts—not just intimately and sexually but in my everyday life—and act on them instead of overthinking, freezing, or holding myself back.

Just as importantly, this work gave me permission to finally be myself. I learned how to express who I am—emotionally and sexually—without fear. Letting go of years of self-suppression has been one of the most freeing experiences of my life. It’s almost impossible to put into words how good it feels to stop shrinking, stop holding back, and stop censoring myself out of fear of judgment. The relief of releasing that weight is unbelievable.

This experience never felt cold or clinical. It never felt like a typical client-therapist dynamic. It felt human. It felt like being guided by people who genuinely cared about me as a person, not just another case. Over time, Nicole and Misty came to feel less like therapists and more like family—people I trust deeply, people who held me through moments of fear, frustration, and profound breakthrough.

Every recommendation—the books, the exercises, the homework—had purpose. And when you put in the work, the results are undeniable.

Ten months later, I can say without hesitation that this was the most important experience of my life. I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have. I’m more confident—not just sexually, but emotionally, socially, and spiritually. I move differently now. I feel grounded. I feel present. I feel open. I feel like myself.

As I step into my 30s, I do so feeling lighter, freer, and more connected to myself than ever before.
To any man reading this who feels alone, confused, ashamed, or broken—I promise you, you’re not. And healing is absolutely possible.

I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my life. Writing this brings tears to my eyes because of the gratitude and love I feel for Nicole and Misty. I don’t know how I’ll ever fully thank them."                 

-- Aaron P.