One of the most common and frequent visitors to the office of every sex therapist is, of course, anxiety. Understanding the relationship between anxiety and sexual functioning, and developing clinical skills in this area, is therefore critically important. In this training, two different expert sex therapists in this topic will each present their perspectives, offering knowledge and practical skills valuable for clinicians at all levels of experience.

Join us via Zoom to view this training. Participants must register for class by 5pm the day before. In order to receive CE credits, you must complete the evaluation form that will be sent to you.

Participants who are enrolled in South Shore Sexual Health Center’s Sex Therapy Training Program should email info@ssshealthcenter.com to register for this course.

Training schedule (All listed times are Eastern Standard Time):

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Anxiety, Play, Dialogue, and Psychotherapy

Presented by: Stephen Duclos, LMFT, LMHC, CRC, CST-S

We will begin by defining anxiety and discussing its impact on sexuality. Then, we will talk about the treatment of anxiety when it gets in the way of sexual functioning. Aspects of therapy will focus on Play (Winnicott), and Defensiveness (Lacan, LeDoux).

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: 15 minute break

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Anxiety, Play, Dialogue, and Psychotherapy (Continued)

Presented by: Stephen Duclos, LMFT, CST-S

Next, we will talk about irreverence and uncertainty, taking some theoretical concepts from Open Dialogue (Seikulla). Exploring negative imagination from a narrative, unknowing stance will also be discussed.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM: Lunch

12:45 PM - 2:15 PM: Anxiety’s Lessons: Sexual Learning and Liberation via Dynamic Emotional Experience

Presented by: Paula Leech, LMFT, CST-S

Anxiety can be a barrier, a bully, an inhibitor, and a distancer. When we encounter the feeling, we frequently reach for control or default to avoidance in an attempt to find our way out of the discomfort it inspires. When anxiety reveals itself in sexual experience, our clients often report challenges with connection, learning, presence, arousal, and sexual functioning. In this skills training we will not only work to understand how anxiety operates, but we will learn to help our clients partner with the feeling (because fighting it will never work) in order to set themselves free from it’s influence. We will look at the wisdom inherent in all emotions and the reward that can be found when we invite-in what lives beyond or alongside “pleasure.” 

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM: 15 minute break

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Anxiety’s Lessons: Sexual Learning and Liberation via Dynamic Emotional Experience (Continued)

Presented by: Paula Leech, LMFT, CST-S

This 6 CE credit course meets the criteria for the following Sex Therapy Training Content Areas:

• 2 CE credits in Criteria Letter A (Theory and Methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.)

• 1 CE credits in Criteria Letter B (Techniques of sex-related assessment and diagnosis of the "psychosexual disorders" described in the current edition of the DSM.)

• 2 CE credits in Criteria Letter C (Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems.)

• 1 CE credits in Criteria Letter D (Theory and method of approach to medical intervention in the evaluation and treatment of psychosexual disorders.)

This program meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 6 total CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT Certification and renewal of certification. South Shore Sexual Health Center, LLC, Provider #15-784-S. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT Certification. For further information please contact ce@aasect.org.