The 45-year-old administrative assistant has been married for almost two years and is determined the marriage will last much longer. That's why she and her husband are attending Club 3D in two weeks.

Her attitude is what Club 3D organizers -- Lisa Terrell and Alyse Kelly-Jones -- want. In a city where some couples spend more time investing in their careers than their relationships, Terrell and Kelly-Jones say the workshop gives couples a chance to invest in their love lives.

"This is not for you if you're having problems," said Terrell, who owns a therapy practice called Lydia's Loom Counseling. "This is ... to step it up."

The administrative assistant who is attending Club 3D said it took some convincing for her husband because he was worried the workshop was for people with problems. Now, he's excited as well.

"I think it'll be fun," she said. "It's neat sometimes to just schedule that time to be with the person that you love. If you can learn tips and techniques while you're doing that, that's a great thing too."

The weekend workshop is Sept. 22-24 at an undisclosed Charlotte hotel. Club 3D stands for the three dimensions of sex: physical, emotional and spiritual.

"People are looking for the Holy Grail, what toy, what drug is going to help me have a better sex life," said Kelly-Jones, a gynecologist. "It's more."

She and Terrell, a certified sex therapist, are part of a community of professionals who view a healthy sex life as an integral component of wellness. Kelly-Jones is a member of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Terrell is a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, & Therapists, a national organization of hundreds of health-care practitioners who promote understanding of human sexuality and healthy sexual behavior.

In June 2007, the AASECT will hold its annual conference, titled "The Soul of Sexuality: Exploring the Depth and Dimensions of Pleasure," at the Charlotte Hilton in the University City area.

Terrell created Charlotte Sexual Health in 2003. It's a group of area primary care physicians, gynecologists, counselors, physical therapists and other providers who meet once a month to exchange ideas and talk about new studies and trends. "Many medical professionals want to help, they want to give advice, (but) they don't know what to say," said Charlotte Sexual Health medical director Kelly-Jones.

Part of the problem is that sex isn't covered thoroughly in medical school. For example, Kelly-Jones said when she attended the University of Florida campuses in Gainesville and later in Jacksonville, she learned about gynecological procedures, care for pregnant women, how to do a caesarian section, and rare sexual disorders. But she received little training on common sexual problems such as low sexual desire, she said.

Pop culture doesn't help. Although explicit rap hits and TV shows such as "Sex and the City" offer a chance to talk about sex, they also make it seem as it's only about technique and toys. The members of Charlotte Sexual Health teach clients and other health-care professionals that creating healthy sex lives is more than drinking wine to relax or popping Viagra.

At Club 3D, couples will have eight hours of sessions to learn about sex and intimacy, and they will learn about passion boosters and busters. They will also have workshops for men and for women. One of Terrell's favorites is "How to Be a Better Lover."

She hosts intimacy workshops throughout the year, and the "How to Be a Better Lover" talk is one of the most informative. People expect videos, techniques and illustrations. Terrell draws a graph on a flip chart and explains the highs and lows of stimulation during intimacy.

Attending one of Terrell's previous "How to Be a Better Lover" lectures drew the 45-year-old administrative assistant to register for Club 3D. She realized the peaks and valleys that Terrell detailed described her levels of intimacy. She figured a weekend workshop would be equally informative.

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