Midday Masterclass: Relationship Dynamics and Psychosexual Dysfunction

Title of Event:

Midday Masterclass: Relationship Dynamics and Psychosexual Dysfunction

Description of Event:

This one-hour on-demand continuing education course is designed for sexual health professionals who work with individuals and couples navigating sexual health concerns. Drawing on contemporary research from 2021-2025, the course examines how relationship dynamics — including drama triangle patterns, attachment, communication, and hope/time orientation — contribute to four common psychosexual concerns: pelvic pain, trauma, desire discrepancy, and anorgasmia/orgasm dysfunction.
For each concern, participants will gain practical clinical evaluation frameworks and evidence-based interventions including sensate focus, the Five Gears of Touch, mindfulness-based strategies, and psychoeducation tools. The course also covers recent research on SGM populations, sexual health and aging, and racial/ethnic disparities in sexual healthcare. A downloadable clinical resource packet is included.

What You Will Learn:
• How relationship dynamics — including drama triangles, attachment style, and communication patterns — contribute to psychosexual symptoms
• Clinical evaluation frameworks and evidence-based interventions for pelvic pain, trauma, desire discrepancy, and anorgasmia
• Practical tools including the Five Gears of Touch, sensate focus, mindfulness-based approaches, and psychoeducation strategies
• Recent research on couples' sexual health, SGM populations, older adults, and racial/ethnic disparities in sexual healthcare
• How to identify when to refer a client to a certified sex therapist and how to approach that conversation
 

Start Date

08-31-2026

Location: (City, State or if Online Synchronous/Online Asynchronous)

Online Asynchronous

Core Knowledge Area(s): (check all that apply)

B. Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the life course.
C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
D. Topics related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity: issues and themes impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual people; heterosexuality; gender identity and expression.
E. Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.
I. Range of sexual functioning and behavior, from optimal to challenging, including, but not limited to, common issues such as: desire discrepancy, lack of desire, difficulty achieving or maintaining arousal, sexual pain, penetration problems and difficulty with orgasm.
M. Pleasure enhancement skills.
O. Professional communication and personal reflection skills.

Sexuality Counseling (SC) Training: (check all that apply)

SC-B. Theory and methods of sexuality counseling approaches to specific populations (e.g., youth, older adult, couples, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, ethnic/ cultural/ faith-based populations).
SC-C. Theory and methods of different approaches to intervention in relationship systems.
SC-D. Theory and methods of decision-making concerning sexually related medical interventions.
SC-E. Ethical issues in sexuality counseling.
SC-F. Theory and practice of consultation, collaboration and referral.

Sex Therapy (ST) Training: (check all that apply)

ST-A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.
ST-B. Techniques of sex-related assessment and diagnosis of the Psychosexual Disorders described in the current edition of the DSM.
ST-C. Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems.
ST-D. Theory and method of approach to medical intervention in the evaluation and treatment of psychosexual disorders.
ST-E. Principles of consultation, collaboration and referral.
ST-F. Ethical decision-making and best practice.

Presenter/Speaker: Justine Braford, LMSW CST

Main Contact: Justine Braford

Contact Telephone Number: (616) 901-6818

Contact Email: justine.braford@grspecialtytherapy.com

Event Website: https://5dtbs.thinkific.com/products/courses/relationshipdynamicsandpsychosexualdysfunction

AASECT Approved CEs: 1