The Conversation High-Achievers Are Afraid to Have (About Sex, Intimacy & Power)
In this episode of the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast, host Erin Gerner interviews Amy Terwilleger, a certified sex and relationship coach. They discuss Amy's unique journey from law to coaching, the common struggles faced by high achievers regarding intimacy, and the importance of pleasure in both personal and professional life. Amy shares insights on how to enhance intimacy, the coaching process, and the significance of addressing grief and loss during transitions. The conversation emphasizes the need for open discussions about sexuality and the link between pleasure and success.
Key Topics Covered
Key Topics Covered
- Amy's journey from engineer to Women's Studies to BigLaw partner to sex coach
- Living the "perfect life on paper" but feeling empty inside
- The midlife reawakening (not crisis) that so many women experience
- What high-achieving women aren't talking about: libido decline and intimacy struggles
- Why 80% of women don't orgasm from penetration alone (and why that's NORMAL)
- The difference between sex coaching and therapy
- How sex education failed us (all negative, zero pleasure)
- Why we're taught to be prim and proper but expected to be sex goddesses
- The science behind pleasure: oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, endorphins
- How pleasure literally heals your body (backed by science)
- Why you should schedule sex (and why spontaneity is overrated)
- Responsive desire vs. spontaneous desire
- The 20-second hug that releases oxytocin
- Solo play as self-discovery (yes, we're talking about masturbation)
- Holding space for grief even when you're moving forward
- The loss of identity when you leave the law
- Permission slips for pleasure, joy, and prioritizing yourself
Work with Amy Terwilleger:
Amy provides sex and relationship coaching for driven professionals, power couples, and individuals. Amy offers a judgment-free space where you can talk openly about sex, intimacy, and pleasure without shame. Her sessions are goal-oriented, forward-looking, and results-driven—with homework assignments to help you take action (because you have to take action to get action).
Ready to prioritize pleasure and reclaim intimacy?
- Website: ConfidentConnections.net
- Instagram: @MillennialDrRuth
Amy reads all her DMs and is available for discovery calls. If you're a high-achieving professional who's been putting everyone else first and is ready to prioritize yourself—Amy gets it. She's been there. Reach out.
Work with Erin Gerner:
Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, overwhelm, and identity crisis. If you're questioning whether this is "all there is," feeling stuck in your career, or ready to reclaim your time and set boundaries without sacrificing your family or wellbeing—Erin can help.
Erin's approach is direct, no-nonsense, and challenges traditional legal culture norms. She focuses on calling out broken systems rather than helping you optimize within them. If you're ready to stop "shoulding" all over yourself and start building on YOUR terms—let's talk.
Ready to stop apologizing and start building the life you actually want?
- Instagram: @eringerner
- LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
- Website: www.eringerner.com
- Book a Free Powerhouse Connection Call
Erin reads every DM and email. If you're feeling stuck, burned out, or ready for something different—reach out. You're not alone. And you don't owe anyone an explanation for how you build your life.
