When it comes to sex, the definition of “mainstream” is changing – fast – and clients are disclosing new relationship and life issues in therapy that weren’t on the radar 5 years ago:

• Fifty Shades of Grey brought kinky sex into the open, and into the bedrooms of millions of people (resulting in a host of “creative differences” in relationships)
• High school students are going to jail for sexting
• Sexting, sexual behavior problems, and casual sex are affecting national politics
• Internet porn is only a smartphone away, affecting work situations and countless marriages (half of all divorces involve complaints over porn use)
• More couples are opening their relationships up to alternative lifestyles, including nonmonogamy
• Young people are openly identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gender queer, sexually fluid, and a range of other evolving sexual orientations

These situations and countless more are walking into therapists’ offices every day, and most therapists have no training, resources, or guidance on how to conceptualize or treat these issues.

In this seminar we will delve into how tech, media, and social changes affect modern sexuality, relationships, and mental health. Guidance on assessment, intervention, and treatment planning is given with lively, entertaining, and exciting real-world examples and case studies to help prevent over-pathologization of sexual behaviors, just because they’re new, misunderstood, or scary. Therapists will learn to support their clients in developing sexual integrity through self-understanding and acceptance.

Course Content

Sex, Technology, AND THE HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SEX

• The impact of the internet on modern sexuality
• Nymphomania and satyriasis
• Sex addiction
• When homosexuality was a disease

sexual orientations

• Social shifts and attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality
• Gender fluidity and modern concepts of pansexuality, genderqueer, etc.
• Supporting transgender teens and children in therapy
• Case studies and resources to understand sexual fluidity concepts

Nonmonogamous Relationships AND CASUAL SEX

• Different types of open relationships, from swinging to polyamory
• Who is pursuing these relationships and why?
• Impact of nonmonogamy and casual sex on families, children and emotional health
• Helping clients to figure out whether casual sex or an open relationship is right for them or their marriage
• Case studies and resources for understanding and incorporating nonmonogamy in therapy

Internet Pornography

• Explore research about pornography use
• Addressing issues of pornography use in therapy
• Resolving moral/religious conflicts about pornography use
• Assisting couples in negotiating boundaries around pornography use
• Case studies and resources for assisting patients in understanding and resolving porn-related problems

Teens and Sexting

• Review research and changing social attitudes/laws on teen sexting
• Identify the risks/benefits of teen sexting
• Help parents to deal with their fears of teen sexting and educate youth about safety, responsibility
• Case studies of teens harmed by sexting and the social response to it
• Resources for assisting patients in understanding teen sexting

BDSM and Kink

• Changing social attitudes towards BDSM
• Research on prevalence, impact, and personality of BDSM
• Why patients keep BDSM secret from their therapists
• How to separate trauma from BDSM in therapy
• Case studies of couples and individuals who incorporate BDSM in their lives and relationships
• Resources for assisting patients in understanding BDSM

Assessment strategies, Interventions, and Therapy Techniques

• Self-assessment strategies for therapists to reduce and understand bias
• Shame reduction strategies in therapy
• Assisting clients in negotiating relationships around modern sexuality
• Assessment strategies to identify roles/functions of sexual behaviors in life, personality, coping
• Harm reduction strategies to manage porn impact
• Tools to help patients be safer on the Internet