ABOUT RICK LASKA, LICSW, CST
I am a Minnesota-born, gay, white, cisgender, assigned male at birth (AMAB), human. I started my undergraduate degree as a musician, focusing on classical music performance. After struggling with the high stress levels involved with performing, I shifted my focus to French Studies. This led to a confusing, uncertain wandering with my life. I spent time as a barista; I worked at a wine bar; I worked as a receptionist; I worked in sales and marketing. After a tragic loss, I evaluated my lack of focus and decided to make a shift: I found an entry level job at a HIV social services organization. It was there I discovered that although my life had taken a series of bizarre turns, my passion was really in helping people access their ability to flourish, even in the face of adversity.
I especially found passion in connecting with people around their sexuality and identity. Some cultures have very oppressive values when it comes to fundamental components of our lives: who we are, desire, the erotic, sex, and pleasure. We are meant to do more than survive the day-to-day; we are meant to flourish. I find absolute delight in helping those who work with me access the endless potential within them.
Education
In order to help people in the ways I wanted to, I had to get my Masters in Social Work (MSW). I graduated from the formerly joint program at the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University. Although these universities are rooted in Catholicism, as a budding sex therapist I made sure to push the boundaries in my learning environment so I could learn what I needed to in order to become a professional helper while also examining the entrenched beliefs within the Catholic school higher education field.
Credentials
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (#23384) by the Minnesota Board of Social Work. I am also a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). In addition to this, I am pursuing on-going education and certification in order to optimize my ability to work in this field. Feel free to ask me about what any of this means or about what I am focusing on in my own professional development.
Professional Presentations
Learning and teaching are incredibly special to me. I have spent time as a sex educator, presenting on topics such as tantra, mindful sex, safer sex, masturbation, partnered sex, the use of sex aids/toys, BDSM/kink, consent, and many other topics in the field of human sexuality.
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As a HIV educator, I presented to community members on how HIV is, and is not transmitted. I have presented to people living with HIV factual information about the illness, taking care of their wellness, undoing stigma, and ways to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others. I have presented to professionals in various health and human services professions about various topics related to HIV, including sex, chemical health, and mental health. All of these intersecting topics blended into me sharing the ways that human sexuality, identity, oppression, and many other factors all blended together to impact a human's experience.
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Regardless of the audience, my ultimate hope is that we share in an experience together that helps you learn more about yourself and how you can incorporate new information into your life.
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Clicking on the "Schedule an Appointment" link below will redirect you to my Electronic Health Record, where you can look at my availability and schedule an appointment.