Introduction to Sex Therapy: Assessment, Referrals, and Best Practices
Presented by Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle, LSW
Recorded on Monday, September 18, 2023
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page.
This 3.0 hour workshop is intended for practicing psychotherapists who may encounter sexological issues in their practice. This presentation will present the core knowledge and competences of sex therapists allowing psychotherapists to discern when clients will benefit from a referral and present the scope of practice of other providers who can support clients through sexological issues (GYN, Urologists, PTs, Psych, etc).
This program will cover a variety of topics to assist participants in feeling a greater degree of comfort and competence when assessing clients for sexological issues that impact their presenting problem, or are expressed as satellite concerns. Specifically, this program will cover topics of assessment, trauma-informed responses, and the normalcy and diversity of sexual experiences. Additionally, the program will present sexological issues as an intersystem challenge and assist participants in identifying personal bias and the need for referral when necessary.
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page.
When attended in full, this program is eligible for 3.0 APA CEUs for Psychologists, 3.0 Illinois CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 3.0 California BBS CEUs LPCCs, LPSW, and LMFTs, or 3.0 AASECT CEs for Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
This 3.0 hour workshop is intended for practicing psychotherapists who may encounter sexological issues in their practice. This presentation will present the core knowledge and competences of sex therapists allowing psychotherapists to discern when clients will benefit from a referral and present the scope of practice of other providers who can support clients through sexological issues (GYN, Urologists, PTs, Psych, etc).
This program will cover a variety of topics to assist participants in feeling a greater degree of comfort and competence when assessing clients for sexological issues that impact their presenting problem, or are expressed as satellite concerns. Specifically, this program will cover topics of assessment, trauma-informed responses, and the normalcy and diversity of sexual experiences. Additionally, the program will present sexological issues as an intersystem challenge and assist participants in identifying personal bias and the need for referral when necessary.
After attending this introductory–level program, participants will be able to:
- Describe the value of trauma-informed responses to clients’ sexological issues.
- Explain the normalcy and diversity of sexual experiences across the human lifespan as demonstrated by the Circles of Sexuality
- Identify personal biases towards sexual content and discern when countertransference issues might arise, indicating the need for supervision, self-care, extra support, or referral.
- Assess clients presenting sexological issues and know when to refer out to a Certified Sex Therapist.
- Explain the specific scope of Certified Sex Therapists, including core knowledge, assessment and best practice
- Explain sexological issues as an intersystem challenge.
- Connect clients to additional resources, including non-psychotherapy providers to help clients with the multiple facets of their problems where indicated (physical therapists, physicians, etc).
This program meets APA’s continuing education Standard 1.3:
Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education Goal 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
This program meets AASECT Core Knowledge Area for:
A. Ethics and ethical behavior.
General Admission: $100
Refund Policy: There will be no refunds for this program.
Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle, LSW
Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle is a licensed social worker and a human sexuality educator with a certificate in trauma treatment and a professional background in perinatal support. Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle enjoys working with individuals and partners to dismantle barriers to joy and connection. She takes an integrative, but mindfulness-based approach to therapy, centering her clients’ strengths and motivations towards desired change. Shannon holds masters’ degrees in social work (MSW) and human sexuality studies (MEd) from Widener University. She is also a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and a Registered Prenatal Yoga Specialist and RYT-200 with Yoga Alliance. Shannon has advanced training in treating relational and intimacy-related concerns, including having completed Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level I and II. She is also pursuing ongoing training in EMDR and Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy.
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). (2022). Core Knowledge Areas. https://www.aasect.org/certification/core-knowledge-areas
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Hall, K. S. K., & Binik, Y. M. (2020). Principles and practice of sex therapy (Sixth edition.). The Guilford Press.
Hertlein, K. M., Gambescia, N., & Weeks, G. R. (2020). Systemic sex therapy (Third edition.). Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.
Turner, G. (2020). The Circles of Sexuality: Promoting a Strengths-based Model Within Social Work that Provides a Holistic Framework for Client Sexual Well-being. In: Mendelhall, A. & Carney, M. Rooted in Strengths: Celebrating the Strengths Perspective in Social Work. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Libraries, pp. 305-325.
Wiederman, M. W. (2015). Sexual Script Theory: Past, Present, and Future. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17341- 2_2
Target Audience: Intended for practicing psychotherapists who may encounter sexological issues in their practice.
Psychologists: This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors: This program, when attended in its entirety, is available 3.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers: This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs: Course meets the qualifications for 3.0 hour of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists: This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 3.0 CE credits. The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved as an AASECT Provider of continuing education credits! Provider number 23-519-CW. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact [email protected].
Participation Certificate. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is able to provide students and other participants who simply wish to have documentation of their attendance at the program a participation certificate.
Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.