Separate Beds, Changing Desire, and Still Staying Close: Intimacy and Parkinson's

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org  Intimacy, in all its forms, doesn't disappear with a Parkinson's diagnosis, but it does change. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Rees joins Chris Krueger for a candid conversation about staying close when Parkinson's changes your body, your self-image, and your relationship. They talk through what to do when touch becomes unpleasant, how to navigate mismatched desire without pressuring each other, impulse control changes related to dopamine agonists, and how couples stay connected when symptoms mean sleeping in separate beds. Whether you live with Parkinson's or care for someone who does, Dr. Rees's closing advice holds the whole conversation: don't give up on yourself. Kelly Rees, PhD is a board-certified therapist who specializes in intimacy, relationships, and sexual wellbeing in the context of Parkinson's. Dr. Rees has 15 years of clinical experience working with adults and couples, and she co-developed a program offering free intimacy and relationship classes to the Parkinson's community. Her work focuses on how Parkinson's symptoms, medications, body changes, and shifting roles can affect desire, connection, and communication, and on helping individuals and care partners adapt in ways that support quality of life and emotional closeness. This conversation comes from the Davis Phinney Foundation's June 2026 Live Well Today webinar. Watch the full webinar video here: https://youtu.be/G6c7SQnHrLs Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter