Thursday, October 22nd, 2026 1:45 PM EDT -4:45 PM EDT Diana Melnick
Yahoo!
Description
This 3-hour seminar teaches sex and couples therapists how to conduct a comprehensive, ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive biopsychosocial assessment with specific emphasis on taking a sex history. Students will learn how to move beyond symptom collection and assess the biological, psychological, relational, cultural, developmental, and contextual factors that shape sexual functioning and sexual distress.
The course integrates the biopsychosocial model, current sexual health history frameworks, sex-positive clinical interviewing, and interdisciplinary referral considerations. The biopsychosocial model is widely used in sexual medicine and sex therapy, but recent scholarship cautions that clinicians must apply it fully rather than reduce sexual concerns to only medical, psychological, or relational explanations.
About the Presenter:
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the core biological, psychological, relational, social, cultural, and developmental domains of a biopsychosocial sex therapy assessment.
- Demonstrate at least three trauma-informed and sex-positive strategies for introducing sexual history questions in a clinical intake.
- Differentiate between sexual behavior, sexual identity, sexual functioning, sexual distress, relational meaning, and medical risk when taking a sex history.
- Formulate an initial case conceptualization using predisposing, precipitating, maintaining, and protective factors.
- Identify when referral or collaboration with medical, pelvic health, psychiatric, or other allied professionals is clinically indicated.
Agenda:
0:00–0:15 — Opening, Frame, and Ethics of Sexual Inquiry
Content:
Why sex history belongs in therapy assessment
Difference between curiosity, voyeurism, and clinically indicated inquiry
Confidentiality, informed consent, mandated reporting, and scope of practice
Therapist self-awareness: discomfort, values, assumptions, and countertransference
Normalizing sexual questions without forcing disclosure
0:15–0:35 — The Biopsychosocial Model in Sex Therapy
Content:
Biological factors: hormones, pain, medications, medical conditions, pelvic floor function, disability, pregnancy/postpartum, menopause, aging, substances
Psychological factors: desire, arousal, shame, anxiety, depression, trauma, body image, religious or moral conflict, compulsivity concerns
Relational factors: attachment, communication, conflict, betrayal, desire discrepancy, sexual scripts, emotional safety
Social/cultural factors: culture, religion, gender norms, minority stress, racism, disability stigma, sexual education, community values
Developmental factors: early messages about sex, puberty, first sexual experiences, sexual milestones, identity development
Protective factors: pleasure, intimacy, communication strengths, resilience, supportive partner(s), spiritual resources, self-knowledge
0:35–1:00 — Structure of a Comprehensive Sex History
Content:
Core sex history domains:
Presenting sexual concern
What brings the client in now?
Who sees this as the problem?
What would improvement look like?
Current sexual functioning
Desire, arousal, lubrication/erection, orgasm, pain, satisfaction, pleasure, avoidance
Solo sex and partnered sex, when clinically relevant
Partners and relationship context
Current partner(s), relationship structure, agreements, communication, safety
Monogamy, consensual non-monogamy, infidelity, secrecy, coercion
Practices and sexual behavior
Types of sexual activity, frequency, changes over time, wanted/unwanted experiences
Distinguish behavior from identity and desire
Protection and sexual health risk
STI history, contraception, pregnancy intentions, testing, safer sex practices
CDC’s commonly used “5 Ps” model includes partners, practices, protection, past STI history, and pregnancy intention.
Medical and pelvic health history
Pain, surgeries, medications, hormonal changes, urologic/gynecologic issues, chronic illness
Referral indicators
Family of Origin and Attachment History
Childhood and early attachment, parental relationships
Early messages about puberty/masturbation/sex
Previous relationships
Early sexual experiences
Sexual play/experimentation
Previous sexual relationships and encounters
Betrayals/break ups
Trauma, coercion, and safety
Asked carefully, with consent and pacing
Current safety before detailed trauma narrative
Culture, religion, values, and meaning
Sexual guilt, modesty, marital values, community norms, spiritual conflict
Strengths, pleasure, and goals
What works?
What has helped?
What kind of sexual life does the client want?
1:00–1:20 — Language, Permission, and Trauma-Informed Interviewing
Content:
Asking before asking
Using client language while maintaining clinical clarity
Avoiding assumptions about gender, orientation, anatomy, relationship structure, or sexual goals
Responding to embarrassment, silence, humor, shame, or disclosure of trauma
How to slow down when the client becomes dysregulated
What not to ask in an intake unless clinically necessary
1:20–1:30 — Knowledge Check and Transition
Activity: Short quiz or group polling
Sample questions:
Name two biological factors that can affect desire.
What is one way to ask permission before taking a sexual history?
What is the difference between sexual behavior and sexual identity?
1:30–1:55 — Case Conceptualization: Predisposing, Precipitating, Maintaining, Protective Factors
Content:
Students learn to organize sex history data into a working formulation:
Predisposing factors:
Early sexual shame
Trauma history
Chronic illness
Restrictive sexual education
Attachment insecurity
Precipitating factors:
Childbirth
Menopause/perimenopause
New medication
Affair disclosure
Pain episode
Religious transition
Relationship rupture
Maintaining factors:
Avoidance
Performance anxiety
Partner pressure
Pain-fear cycle
Lack of communication
Medical issue not evaluated
Shame and secrecy
Protective factors:
Motivation
Partner support
Good communication
Prior positive sexual experiences
Access to medical care
Flexible sexual scripts
1:55–2:20 — Role Play: Taking the Sex History
Activity: Triad or dyad role play
Roles:
Therapist
Client
Observer
Scenario options:
Desire discrepancy in a long-term couple
Pain with penetration and avoidance
Erectile difficulty with performance anxiety
Shame after religious or cultural messages about sex
Postpartum sexual changes
Sexual trauma history emerging during intake
Observer checklist:
Did the therapist ask permission?
Did the therapist use neutral language?
Did the therapist assess biological, psychological, relational, and cultural factors?
Did the therapist avoid premature interpretation?
Did the therapist identify next-step referrals or assessments?
2:20–2:40 — Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Referral
Content:
When to refer to pelvic physical therapy
When to refer to gynecology, urology, endocrinology, psychiatry, primary care, pain medicine, or sexual medicine
Medication side effects and sexual functioning
Pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction, vaginismus/genito-pelvic pain, low desire, orgasm concerns
Staying within clinical scope
How to explain referrals without implying “it is all in your body” or “it is all in your head”
2:40–2:55 — Documentation, Risk, and Clinical Decision-Making
Content:
What to document from a sex history
Clinical relevance and minimal necessary detail
Consent, coercion, intimate partner violence, exploitation, compulsive behavior concerns
Risk assessment: suicidality, self-harm, abuse, assault, unsafe sexual situations
How to document sensitive sexual information respectfully
Treatment planning after assessment
2:55–3:00 — Wrap-Up and Post-Test
Activity:
Final questions
Post-test
Course evaluation
Self-reflection: “What part of sex history taking do I need to practice most?”
Accreditation - This Webinar Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
- CE You LLC, #1573, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/27/2024 - 3/27/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 continuing education credits.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program. - CE You LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0437
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a CeYou! Plus! seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform CeYou! Plus! ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting 607-249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by CeYou! Plus! is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program