Laurie Legocki, PhD
Overview
I am a Wyoming girl who loves to meet new people, read, take long road trips, and travel. I have visited almost every state and five countries. I worked as a rafting guide in Moab, Utah and in the Grand Canyon for eight years as well as spending some off seasons as a working ski bum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I married a Michigander and transplanted him to Montana. We have two amazingly fun, smart, and kind little boys who are the light of my life and my greatest accomplishment. They love legos, reading, and getting dirty! As a family we love camping, playing board games, throwing rocks, and family movie night. These three people make me a better listener, a more patient friend, and an overall more amazing human being!
Background of how I got here
I have always been someone people could talk to. From my earliest days in college I was the go-to person for advice on a variety of very personal information. It was through those conversations that I realized people have lots of questions about sex and relationships and they don’t always have a good resource for information. It led me to start my masters program studying sexual desire disorders in women. That interest also led me to question what college students considered “normal” sexual behavior. It turned into my master’s thesis, in which I looked at the differences in perceived and actual sexual behaviors of college students.
Throughout college and graduate school, I worked as a whitewater rafting guide in the Grand Canyon. I once again found myself as a trusted resource for sexuality information among my fellow guides and my river passengers. It is amazing how close you can get with people when you are with them for six to ten days on a river trip. It was through these conversations that I realized it wasn’t just desire that was a significant issue, pain with intercourse was also a topic that came up a great deal.
This new interested led me to the mid-west to study sexual pain disorders at Indiana University, home of The Kinsey Institute. While at Indiana, I was able to be a part of an amazing group of students and faculty and had the opportunity to study a variety of sexuality related topics. I have done research on sexuality education in public schools, condom use behaviors of young men, risk taking behaviors of men who have sex with men, body image and sexuality, social norms around sexual behavior, sexual orientation, and use of sex toys.
My primary research focus at Indiana was on sexual pain disorders in young women. This research was the focus of my dissertation as well as the driving factor for a post-doctoral research fellowship with two of the leading researchers in the country who study Vulvodynia, a neuropathic pain of the vulva. It was through my clinical experiences that I was able to work first hand as a trusted resource and coach for women and couples experiencing vulvar pain.
Because of my education and research background, I have been able to present over 30 research presentations in four different countries as well as multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals.
If you are in to specific details, this list is for you!
Education & Credentials
2019
Certified Sexologist, The American College of Sexologists
Certified Love Coach, with Dr. Ava Cadell
Certified Relationship Coach, with Dr. Ava Cadell
2011
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Vulvodynia Research Program, Departments of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
2008
Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Health Behavior
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2002
Master of Science
Major: Health Education
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
2000
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Psychology
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Professional Organizations:
National Vulvodynia Association
Member
International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease
Member
International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
Member
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Member, Moderator
American Public Health Association
Member, Moderator, HIV/AIDS Section, Reviewer
Community Involvement and Service
2018-Present
St. Vincent Hospital Volunteer Services
2015-2018
Wise Wonders Children’s Museum, Grant Committee
2015-2018
Junior League of Billings, Fund Development Committee
2015-Present
Corks and Canvas Donation Chair, Event Chair, Ronald McDonald House
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