About Laura Henkel, D.H.S., Ph.D.
Since 2007, Laura Henkel, D.H.S., Ph.D., has specialized in sexuality education through art, culture, and applied clinical sexology. Her work provides an inclusive, reflective, and intellectually grounded space to explore questions of sex, gender, identity, intimacy, and human connection through education, consultation, and creative inquiry.
Her approach is rooted in respect, compassion, and cultural awareness, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from sexology, erotology, art history, phenomenology, and visual culture. The foundation of her work emphasizes sexual literacy, embodied awareness, and personal insight, supported through educational dialogue rather than psychological diagnosis or treatment.
Academic Background and Doctoral Research
Dr. Henkel earned both a Doctor of Human Sexuality (D.H.S.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Erotology from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS). Erotology is the interdisciplinary study of erotic expression as it appears in art, literature, media, and cultural artifacts, examining how sexuality is represented, preserved, and understood across societies and historical contexts.
Her phenomenological doctoral dissertation centered on the creation of an erotic art museum, examining how erotic art functions as a site of education, cultural memory, and embodied meaning. As part of this research, she traveled internationally, studying collections, archives, and exhibition models while engaging with artists, curators, and scholars to understand how erotic expression is shaped by place, culture, and lived experience.
This research ultimately informed the development of real-world exhibitions and institutions dedicated to the serious, scholarly, and educational presentation of erotic art.
Art, Museums, and Cultural Practice
In parallel with her academic work, Dr. Henkel has created museums, art galleries, juried exhibitions, and international installations, collaborating with artists and institutions across multiple countries. She is the founder of Sin City Gallery and the internationally recognized juried exhibition 12 Inches of Sin, a long-running platform that examines sexuality, identity, power, and representation through contemporary art.
Her curatorial practice is grounded in inclusivity and cultural literacy, with a focus on elevating underrepresented voices and fostering thoughtful dialogue around erotic expression as a legitimate and meaningful area of artistic and academic inquiry.
International and Advisory Engagement
Dr. Henkel serves on the Advisory Board of the South Asia Institute of Human Sexuality (SAIHS), contributing expertise in sexuality education, cultural representation, and applied erotology.
She has lectured internationally on erotology and sexuality education, including presentations delivered in Hong Kong alongside Ruan Fangfu to the Chinese Sexology Association and the World Association of Chinese Sexologists, addressing the educational and cultural value of erotology within sexological study.
Appraisals and Archival Work
Dr. Henkel also provides specialized erotic art appraisals for charitable donations to academic institutions, with an emphasis on erotic art, LGBTQ+ collections, ephemera, and culturally significant materials. This work supports preservation, scholarship, and institutional acquisition.
Scope of Services
Services offered through sex-gender-love-therapy.com are educational, consultative, and coaching-based in nature. These may include:
Sexuality education and sexual literacy;
Exploration of gender, identity, and relationships;
Art- and culture-based discussions of intimacy and desire;
Educational consultation grounded in applied sexology and erotology; and,
Reflective dialogue supporting personal insight and understanding.
These services do not constitute psychotherapy, psychological treatment, medical care, or mental health services. No diagnosis, clinical intervention, or licensed psychological services are provided.
Fees and Engagement
Consultations are typically billed at $150 per hour.
For lectures, educational programming, writing, curatorial projects, or specialized consultations, flat fees may be arranged depending on the scope and nature of the work. All fees are discussed in advance.
All services are offered strictly within the scope of sexuality education, academic consultation, and cultural inquiry.
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