Diversities in Sexual Constructions and Expressions

Title of Event: Diversities in Sexual Constructions and Expressions

 

Description of Event:

Sex and sexuality are central, and multifaceted, elements of the human experience across the lifespan. Yet clinically it has been marginalized, compartmentalized and its components relegated to specialists within healthcare disciplines. Mental health professionals receive little, if any, specific training on addressing sex during their graduate level training. Yet all counselors and therapists, regardless of the settings or populations they work with, will encounter a wide range of sexually related issues.

 

When human sexuality is addressed in training programs (which is all too rare) we are taught from a heteronormative model that holds monogamous dyads as the standard. “Sex” refers to intercourse and the focus is on addressing pathologies. Professionals are taught to diagnose and treat problems. However, the problem with this paradigm is that the historic definitions of “normal” don’t reflect the full range of healthy human sexual expressions. This session is an expansive overview of diversity in sexual behaviors and relationship constructions and how to engage these as providers. Using a positive sexuality lens, we will explore professional and personal attitudes impacting this work, examine cultural and individual sexual constructions, and consider potential benefits of “alternative” sexualities. We will also discuss language and approaches that are more effective with these populations, applying them to a case vignette. This program is built on a sex-positive framework, using strength-based approaches promoting health and wellbeing. Participants will gain foundational knowledge and explore the emotional skills necessary to conduct clinical work that that maximizes pleasure and celebrates sexual diversity.

 

Date of Event: May 14, 2025

 

Time of Event: (9:30am-12:30pm PT / 11:30am-2:30pm CT / 12:30-3:30pm ET

 

Location: Online through Zoom

 

Presenter/Speaker: Braden Berkey, PsyD, CSE

 

Contact Name: Office of CE at The Chicago School

 

Contact Email: officeofce@thechicagoschool.edu

 

Event Website: https://tcsppofficeofce.com/may_14_2025/

 

AASECT Approved CEs: 3.0