Continuing Education & Professional Development
Conflicts of Interest: Treating Women’s Sexual Problems in the Context of Individual and Couples Therapy
Overview: Pills, patches, pumps, gels and even nasal sprays are being developed to help improve the sexual interest and pleasure of women. The failure to quickly discover the “Pink Viagra” is in large part due to the complexity of female sexuality, which is influenced by emotional, psychological, relational and physiological factors. The benefit of this recent attention on female sexuality is that women are now fully aware that they are not alone in their sexual distress and are motivated to find a resolution to their unhappiness. Recent studies suggest that as many as 25% of women are distressed about their sex lives, and this figure is undoubtedly higher in clinical populations as there is a significant overlap between sexual issues and such presenting complaints as eating disorders, substance abuse, history of sexual abuse, anxiety, and depression. Physical factors such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer also have sexual repercussions. At the present time, psychotherapy represents the best option for women intent on improving their sex lives.
The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize clinicians with the range of sexual problems that women present with, the most prevalent being lack of interest in sex. Using interesting and often challenging case material, this workshop will provide the skills necessary to inquire about and treat these sexual problems. The DSM-IV-TR outlines sexual dysfunctions, but the distress that women experience goes beyond these few performance related difficulties. Because sexual issues often wreak havoc in relationships, or are identified as the cause of the demise of a relationship, treatment strategies that encompass both individual and couples therapy will be presented. Case material from clients with diverse sociocultural backgrounds will be part of this workshop.
Objectives: Participants will: 1) learn how to ask questions about sexuality and how to raise sexually sensitive topics during initial evaluations and in the context of ongoing psychotherapy; 2) gain an understanding of the common sexual complaints of women with a particular focus on low or absent sexual desire; 3) become familiar with the latest innovations in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry that target male and female sexual functioning and how these innovations are affecting people’s sex lives; and 4) learn specific therapeutic techniques for improving the sexual satisfaction of their female clients and resolving sex related issues in couples’ therapy.
Method(s) of Instruction: This workshop will involve didactic presentation with power point, case presentations, experiential exercises, and handouts including a list of sexuality related references and resources.
Fee: $125
CE Contact Hours: 5
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Time: 9:30am–3:30pm
Instructor(s): Dr. Kathryn Hall
Dr. Kathryn Hall is a Clinical Psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions, deviations and sexual abuse for over 20 years. She is the author of numerous articles regarding human sexuality and has consulted with the Courts on issues related to childhood sexual abuse. Dr. Hall has lectured internationally on a variety of sexual issues. She is the author of Reclaiming Your Sexual Self: How You Can Bring Desire Back Into Your Life, which was voted the best consumer sex book by the Society for Sex Therapy and Research in 2006.