Better Relationships, Healthy Sex Bright Side programme

Research shows that loving relationships make you healthier and help you live longer. This programme will help you understand your attachment style and enhance your confidence with communicating your needs in your romantic life.

The programme is free for all AUT students.

Hear from our guide

Learn more about what you can expect from the programme.

What you'll gain

• Awareness of how your childhood and life experience influence how you behave in relationships
• Understanding how your personal and relationship values can support you when choosing potential partners or assessing existing relationships
• Clarity on what it means to have healthy sex and how to communicate your needs in a relationship
• An understanding of how to have a healthy relationship
• Strategies to become a better partner
• Understanding when it is right to stay in a relationship and when it may be better to leave

2024 Semester 1 dates and times

Programme sessions will be held at the AUT City Campus on the following dates:

• Monday 18 March, 1pm – 4pm
• Monday 25 March, 1pm – 4pm
• Monday 8 April, 1pm – 3pm

Ready to join Bright Side’s Better Relationships, Healthy Sex programme? Apply today – it’s easy! Submit your application before 5pm, Monday 11 March. Contact brightside@aut.ac.nz if you have any questions.

Apply for this programme here

About Jo Batts, registered counsellor

Jo’s approach to therapy is based on practical real-life experience and a pragmatic style of listening without judgment.

She brings a holistic approach by working with the mind, body, emotions, spirituality, family and relationships. As a registered counsellor (NZAC) with postgraduate qualifications, continual professional development and supervision, she is committed to ethical best practice.

Jo is passionate about enabling people to walk through their own challenges with courage, knowledge and support.

About Jo Robertson, qualified sex therapist and relationship counsellor

Jo Robertson is a qualified sex therapist who specialises in relationship counselling, crisis therapy and societal relationships with pornography.

From an early age, Jo knew she wanted to serve people; she had a strong concern for those who felt no one was listening to them. This compelled her to train in social policy, counselling and sexual health, and to earn her Master of Science in sex therapy, with a focus on the consumption rates and impacts of porn on adolescents.

She has speciality training in sexual addiction, partner betrayal trauma and full therapeutic disclosures, and runs a therapy practice.

She works as the research and training lead for The Light Project, a charity equipping youth, their families and professionals to navigate the new porn landscape. Jo recently delivered a highly regarded TED Talk on why we need to talk about porn.