Human Sexuality: Diverse Populations-Diverse Considerations
Fulfills requirement: This course fulfills Human Sexuality course requirements for psychologists, MFTs and LCSWs in California and other states.
This course is also offered as part of a Pre-licensing Savings Package of pre-requisite courses
Note: Some of the content from this course is contained in other Zur Institute courses.
Sexuality is one of the most fundamental parts of being human and is usually present in therapy, whether explicitly or implicitly. Its effects on identity and individual or relational issues are almost always intertwined with therapy. Many therapists are reluctant to discuss sexual issues with clients, and an aim of this course is to help them feel more competent in doing so.
Well-qualified therapists must be versed in sexual psychoeducation, how sexuality affects individual and couples’ relational issues, and how to directly address sexual issues when they are both implicitly and explicitly part of therapy. This advanced course in human sexuality includes more in-depth discussion of sexuality issues including how bias, sexualization, and age impact views of sexuality. With a frank discussion of sexual issues, this course will help therapists become more comfortable and conversant with sexuality in its many and diverse forms. Content includes audio, written, and video formats.
In the introduction to the course, Laurie Mintz, PhD, explains why clinicians need to talk about sex with their clients and explains how to do so. Next, internationally renowned sex expert Marty Klein, PhD, provides an overview of sexuality across the life span. The course also features an interview with George Zilbergeld, PhD about sex and love at midlife.
The next section of the course addresses sexual dysfunction and infidelity. Dr. Klein discusses how non experts can identify and address common difficulties with sexual functioning, and Laurie Mintz, PhD, focuses on low sexual desire among females. These presentations are followed by a commentary by Dr. Ofer Zur on the topic of myths relating to infidelity.
The final section considers sexuality among diverse populations, namely Black Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community. An article by John Elia, PhD, reviews the history of Black sexuality in the United States and how pervasive views have been shaped by fears and misconceptions. Davina Kotulski, PhD, provides clinicians with a working knowledge of LGBTQ+ terminology and highlights some common mental health concerns among that community.
Educational Objectives
This course will teach the participant to
- Explain why clinicians should discuss sex with their clients and how to broach the topic and respond to client concerns
- Describe common changes to the body through the lifecycle and their impact on sexual expectations, desire, and functioning
- Discuss common cultural myths and personal sexual narratives that can be topics in treatment
- Explain the sexual effects of medications, chronic pain, and various healthcare issues with clients
- Identify several practical interventions to help patients with sexual difficulties
- Describe common misconceptions and myths related to sexual infidelity
- Explain some common mental health concerns among members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Syllabus
Part I: Why You Need to Talk About Sex with Your Client
- Reasons why many therapists don’t talk to their clients about sex
- Important clinical reasons why therapists should be asking every client about sex
- Relationship between sexual satisfaction and life and relationship satisfaction
- Relationship between sexual functioning and other major psychological concerns
- How to talk about sex in therapy
- Broaching the subject
- Responding to client concerns
Part II: Sexuality Through the Lifespan
- Developing our ideas about sex
- Healthy bodies
- What is normal?
- Why have sex?
- Does sex have meaning?
- Common changes with aging
- Arousal, orgasm, lubrication, refractory period
- Menopause
- Stamina
- Ways sexuality can stay stable with aging
- Addressing clients’ narratives about sex
- What is normal?
- Empowered vs. powerless
- Attractiveness
- Skill, experience
- Sexuality as identity
- Health challenges to sexual expression
- Chronic pain
- Medication side effects
- Treatment side effects
- Sleep problems
- Artificial fertility
- Contraception
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Satisfying sexual relationships in midlife
Part III: Resolving Sexual Dysfunction and Problems for Non-Specialists
- Overview
- Looking at the way clients are thinking about their bodies versus seeing the body as the problem
- The problem with the concept of dysfunction
- General strategies for resolving sexual dysfunction
- Ask about what clients focus on during sex
- Ask about their lived experience
- Address sexual narratives and conditions for sex
- Address reasons that clients don’t enjoy sex
- Helping clients shape their sexual experience rather than focus on function
- Emphasize communication and self-acceptance
- Diminished sexual desire in women
- Interaction of biology and stressors
- Strategies for assessing low desire
- Strategies for addressing low desire
- Infidelity and affairs
- Myths
- Facts
- Approaches to healing
Part IV: Sexuality in Diverse Populations
- Historical views of Black sexuality
- Origins of common stereotypes
- Contributions by academic fields
- Recent efforts at changing negative views
- Working with members of the LGBTQ+ community
- American Psychological Association standards
- Basic terminology