Sex Therapy Foundations: Integrating Sexual Health Into Counseling Practice
Sexual concerns are among the most common presenting problems in couples counseling and are frequently disclosed — or deliberately not disclosed — in individual therapy. Yet most mental health professionals receive minimal training in sexual health clinical practice during graduate preparation. This 3-hour continuing education course provides a rigorous foundation in sex therapy: the major models of sexual functioning and dysfunction, evidence-based assessment of sexual concerns, the most common sexual dysfunctions encountered in clinical practice and their evidence-based treatments, the intersection of sexual health with mental health and relationship functioning, and the ethical and professional boundaries that govern sexual health counseling. Designed for mental health professionals who want to be more clinically effective with the sexual concerns their clients are already bringing — or not bringing — to session.
3
CE Hours
3
Modules
32
Quiz Questions
1
Est. Minutes
What you'll learn
- Define the scope of sex therapy and distinguish between sexual concerns addressed in general mental health practice and those requiring referral to a certified sex therapist.
- Apply the PLISSIT and Ex-PLISSIT models as frameworks for providing graduated sexual health interventions at levels appropriate to one's training.
- Describe the biopsychosocial model of sexual functioning and its application to clinical assessment of sexual health concerns.
- Identify and apply validated sexual health assessment instruments including the FSFI, IIEF, and SFQ within a culturally responsive assessment framework.
- Describe the evidence base for sensate focus, cognitive-behavioral sex therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches for common sexual health presentations.
- Apply an affirming, culturally humble clinical stance to sexual health concerns across diverse client populations including LGBTQ+ clients and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Who it's for
Licensed mental health professionals including LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists, and NCCs who wish to integrate sexual health assessment and evidence-based sex therapy foundations into their clinical practice.
Approval & credit
CounselorReady is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7760). This course awards 3 NBCC-approved CE hours; a certificate is issued on completion. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CounselorReady is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.