"A truly vital and nuanced guide that is as empowering as it is educational."
—School Library Journal (starred review)
You deserve clear, accurate information about sexual consent! Let this honest and empowering book be your go-to guide.
Let’s get real: Sex is complicated. Like, really complicated. And as a teen, you need trusted resources to help you navigate sexual issues without shame, guilt, or judgment. But if you’re like many teens, you may not have someone in your life that you can talk to openly about complicated sexual situations, and what consent really means—and this information is crucial for your health, safety, and happiness.
Real Talk About Sex and Consent is a comprehensive guide with essential information about setting boundaries, coercion, reciprocity, and communication. You’ll also find hard facts about sex and trauma, the effects of pornography and cultural expectations, and much more. With this book, you’ll learn how to make sexual decisions that honor your sense of values and cultivate rewarding and emotionally supportive relationships throughout your life.
This book goes past simple definitions of sex and consent and explores the hidden pressures, misrepresented expectations, and realities of sex—and what to do about it all.
It’s time to get informed and take control of your sexual self. This book will give you the tools you need to make decisions that are right for you.
AUTHORS
Cheryl M. Bradshaw, MA, is a registered psychotherapist working in private practice, and author of How to Like Yourself—a self-esteem guide for teens—and The Resilience Workbook for Teens. She has been featured on various television shows, radio shows, and podcasts, including Breakfast Television, Global’s The Morning Show, CBC Radio, and Today’s Parent. Her first book was also selected as a 2016 Foreword INDIES finalist for the 2016 Young Adult Nonfiction category. In addition, Cheryl received the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award from Yorkville University in 2017. Bradshaw served as a counselor at both Sheridan College and the University of Guelph. She also has a background in teaching, and continues to work with and volunteer with schools and charities to talk about youth and young adult mental health, self-esteem, and also to support parents with their teens.
Bradshaw resides in Hamilton, ON, Canada; with her husband, Andrew; their daughter; and their dogs, Baxter and Kiara. Find out more about her at www.cherylmbradshaw.com, and on social media @cherylmbradshaw.
PRAISE
“Real Talk about Sex and Consent is a current and engaging guide for teens using language they understand and stories they can relate to. Bradshaw’s skillful use of metaphors and acronyms makes key concepts about consent easy for readers to understand and put into action. It is also an invaluable tool for parents and other caring adults in the lives of young people who want to have meaningful conversations with them about this important topic. My stepdaughters will definitely be getting a copy!”
—Saleema Noon, BA, MA, OBC, sexual health educator, and coauthor of Talk Sex Today
“Written in a way that is honest, informative, and engaging, Cheryl Bradshaw’s book, Real Talk About Sex and Consent, is an important read for all teenagers, educators, and parents. In order to shift often unsafe societal views around sex and relationships, our young people need to know and understand their rights regarding consent and intimacy. This book provides life-changing information, as well as practical ideas and scenarios so teenagers can feel empowered and safe as they head into adulthood.”
—Jayneen Sanders, educator, and author of Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
“This book is timely, inclusive, and incredibly comprehensive. We have been teaching youth about their bodies, relationships, and their sexual health rights for over forty years—and this book effectively addresses their most asked questions and demystifies the topic of consent. This is a great resource for youth and their parents to start the conversation about consent, healthy relationships, and preventing sexual violence. We would highly recommend this book!”
—Centre for Sexuality, organization in Calgary, AB, Canada, that has been providing relationship and sexual health education to youth in Alberta since 1975
