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Exemplary Practice Area: “Comfort, Awareness, & Personal Reflection"

Title of Event: Exemplary Practice Area: “Comfort, Awareness, & Personal Reflection"
 
Description of Event:
This webinar will introduce the ACSSW Annual Webinar Series on Exemplary Practices by focusing on the first practice area of “Comfort, Awareness, & Personal Reflection.” The Exemplary Practices (Pope et al, 2024) were developed to provide guidelines for mental health professionals when addressing sexual issues in clinical settings. There are twelve identified practice areas with 4 domains in each area which is consistent with the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MCSJCC; Ratts et al., 2015). The first practice area focuses on the importance and necessity of mental health clinicians to engage in self-reflection on their own values/beliefs around sexuality in order to be able to effectively address sexuality issues with clients. This is not only to increase their comfort and awareness related to sexuality but also to become attuned to their own biases. This webinar will review the different practices in each of the domains in the first practice area. These include the importance of historical and cultural influences on sexuality as well as the role of intersectionality in sex and sexuality within clinical populations (Pope et al, 2024). The Sexual Script Questionnaire will be shared as a tool for self-reflection (McClain & Salvadore, 2023). A sex positive/sex-affirming framework will be reviewed and ways clinicians can apply that framework in clinical practice. This approach is consistent with values within both counseling and psychology practices that include: (a) emphasis on strengths, (b) healthy development across the lifespan, (c) recognition of diversity and intersectionality, (d) biopsychosocial approach, and (e) social justice. Research/literature will be reviewed which supports the importance of sexual satisfaction to overall well-being and how adopting a sex positive approach in clinical treatment is essential to providing efficacious treatment. Resources including books, articles, and websites will be made available with current literature on sex and sexuality for participants to engage in ongoing training/education. Case vignettes will be shared to elicit discussion around challenging biases and the importance of obtaining knowledge on sexuality and sexual wellness.
 
Date of Event: July 18, 2025
 
Time of Event: 10am-12pm CT/ 8am-10am PT/ 11am-1pm ET
 
Location: Online
 
Sexuality Counseling (SC) Training:
SC1. Theory and methods of personal/individual counseling.
 
Presenter/Speaker: Frances McClain, PhD, LCPC and Lisa Salvadore, MSW, LCSW, LCPC, CADC
 
Company/Organization Sponsor: Association of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness
 
Contact Name: Christine Whitt
 
 
 
AASECT Approved CEs: 2.0

Event Knowledge Areas Covered: