David Ley – Modern Sexual Issues in Clinical Practice: What Every Clinician Needs to Know

Outline

Assessment of Sexual Health Issues

• The impact of the Internet on sexuality
• Sexuality’s impact on presenting issues
• Self-assessment strategies for clinician bias
• Treat sex like a behavior – not a disease
• Allow the client to explore ambivalence
• Is sex a cause or symptom?
• Holistic perspective to evaluating sexuality
• Principle-based model of sexual health
• Assessment tool: Sexual sensation seeking scale
• Sex addiction
• Limitations of research & potential risks

Sexting: Assist Teens & Adults with the Safe Use of Technology

• Sex, technology & changing social values
• Legal ramifications of teen sexting
• Sexting’s impact on body image
• Mitigate effects of bullying, harassment & exploitation
• Educate teens about safety & responsibility
• Help teens choose a “cyber buddy”
• Harm-reduction strategies for sexting
• Case Studies: Teen sexting & adult sexting

Pornography: Help Clients Achieve Healthy Use of Pornography

• Resolve moral/religious conflicts about porn use
• Assess ideals of sexual property within relationships
• Assist couples in negotiating boundaries around pornography use
• Minimize attention & focus on problems
• Help clients take proactive steps to make values-consistent decisions easier
• Strategies for healthy porn use
• Case Studies: Healthy & unhealthy porn use

Casual Sex: Strategies to Help Clients Balance Values & Sexual Activity

• Casual sex & its implications for depression
• Shame, stigma & female sexuality
• Help clients evaluate their values
• Determine the benefits of casual sex for the client
• Help clients determine if casual sex is right for them
• Shame reduction strategies
• Case Studies: Casual sex, shame & values

Consensual Nonmonogamy: Navigate the Complexities of Non-Traditional Relationships

• Types of open relationships
• The impact of nonmonogamy on families, children & mental health

Issues to Address in Therapy

• Is nonmonogamy right for the relationship?
• Create boundaries
• Time sharing
• Communication
• Jealousy triggers
• Case Studies: Stressors on non-monogamous relationships; polyamorous and swinging relationships

Sexual Orientations: Confidently Address Sexual Issues of Unique Clinical Populations

• Gender vs sexuality
• The blurring line between heterosexuality & homosexuality
• How is orientation determined?
• What does the term mean to your client?
• Understand the function of the term for the client
• Assist clients with understanding orientation as part of their healthy sexuality
• Support transgender kids & teens in therapy
• Case Studies: Transgender teens; sexual fluidity

BDSM & Kink: Nonjudgmentally Discuss Personal Sexual Issues with Clients

• Paraphilic disorders vs paraphilia
• Common misconceptions
• Ask, “What does BDSM/Kink mean to you?”
• Separate trauma from BDSM in therapy
• Address unwanted fantasies & fetishes
• Educate clients about healthy sexuality
• Help clients negotiate boundaries & consent
• Case Studies: What’s the real problem here?