Begin by reviewing the Sexological Assessment (Appendix A), a supplement to a general intake assessment. Unlike an intake assessment, however, the Sexological Assessment is to be reviewed gradually with clients to build an understanding of their holistic sexual being. Take the time now to review the full assessment. While you are encouraged to answer the Sexological Assessment questions for your own use, do not submit your answers to the Sexological Assessment in this class. Submit your responses to the questions below.
1. What is it like to consider some of the questions from the Sexological Assessment for yourself? (Note: Do not submit answers to the questions in the assessment; only describe how it felt to consider the questions.) This is assessment is similar to a Bio-psychosocial, but places emphasis on sexuality, if you are not in tuned with your sexuality or you are hiding from your sexuality the questioning will make you uncomfortable to answer, but it also draw you to answer the questioning in an effort to seek the answer you are looking for about yourself.
2. Identify four sections from the Sexological Assessment you are most uncomfortable with. Write a sentence or two per section considering why you are uncomfortable with this area of sex or sexuality.
1. Sexual Health – Have you ever looked at your genitals? As I was reading this question, It made me visualize myself looking at my genitals, and because I have never done so, it made me very uncomfortable to ask this question, because of me visualizing their description of completing this task and how their genitals look.
2. Healthy Sexual Functioning – I have never been comfortable about discussing masturbation, this subject always made me feel uncomfortable or inadequate, not sure why but just mentioning the word masturbation makes me feel uncomfortable.
3. Sexual Exploitation – The questioning of sexual abuse, because I was molested as a child, I become extremely emotionally involved with others who were molested or raped a child and forget to distance my feelings, I am at a point that I can discuss my sexual abuse without it bothering my way of life, I still don’t like visiting this place.
4. Pornography – This is a fetish that I cannot get into, and am uncomfortable discussing it, because I do not like watching porn.
3. Explain an ethical implication(s) that you feel is most important for sexuality counseling based on historical trends. Include a citation from the readings.
Ethics is the key to any professional and consumer relationships; it is the key to how a relationship will either flourish or diminish if certain boundaries are not followed. The most important ethical implications in any counseling relationship is (1) Competency – According to AASECT it is important to be trained in sexuality education, counseling, and therapy. (2) Moral, Ethical, and Legal Standards – Avoid any action that might violate or diminish the legal and civil rights of the consumer and lastly (3) Welfare of the Consumer – your patient rights and best interest shall be protected at all cost during your relationship.
Citation(s): American Association of Sexuality, Educators, Counselors and Therapist (n.d.) Code of ethics http://www.assect.org (code-ethics).
The Professional Development section in Weeks 2–10 of the workbook provides you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills (or lack of) to better help your future clients. For example, consider the four sections from the Sexological Assessment you identified this week as being most uncomfortable with. What professional development opportunities are available to you so that you could address this discomfort and be better equipped to address these issues with a client? Throughout the course, you will find other topics you are unfamiliar with or that you are motivated to learn more about. Use the Professional Development portion of the workbook to identify opportunities to develop your expertise and increase your comfort level with these topics.
Beginning in Week 2, you must research and identify a minimum of three potential professional development opportunities that are related to the topics of that week. These opportunities may include, but are not limited to, trainings, workshops, events, webinars, conferences, books, TED Talks, podcasts, or participation in a professional organization. You must compile a list of all these opportunities in Appendix B, adding to it each week. You will turn in the first part of your list in Week 6 with the first half of your Sexological Workbook. This way, your Instructor knows you have been working hard each week on building your list.
Before Week 11, you must attend or participate in one of these professional development opportunities you have identified in Weeks 2–6. You will continue to add to your Professional Development list in Weeks 7–10. Your final Professional Development list is due in Week 10 when you turn in Part 2 of the Sexological Workbook.
In Week 11, you will create a 3- to 5-minute video presentation in the discussion board that presents the professional development opportunity you engaged in. Please take the time now to review the rubric for the presentation so that you know the expectations in advance.
The professional development opportunity you choose for your presentations must meet at least one of the following criteria:
· For trainings/workshops/events/webinars/conferences, the professional development opportunity must be at least 90 minutes long.
· If you are viewing an educational video, such as a TED Talk, you must find several TED Talks on a similar topic that equal at least 120 minutes.
· If you are listening to podcasts, listen to at least 120 minutes of podcasts.
· If you are participating in a professional organization, attend at least 90 minutes of meetings or other organizational instruction.
· If you are reading a book or journal articles, the reading materials must total at least 50 pages.
· If your professional development opportunity does not meet any of these criteria, please reach out to your Instructor to present your opportunity and ask if your opportunity will be accepted. Do this early so that you have time to locate a different opportunity if yours is not deemed acceptable.
This quarter, you will be building a local Sexological Resource List to use in your work as a counselor. Each week, you will continue adding resources to your list. Your objective is to identify the most local resources possible for clients to access. Resources are services that clients could use, such as a physical place a client could go to (e.g., a specific health clinic that serves individuals in your area) or a person with expertise; if you are unable to find either of those options, you may consider online resources or learning resources such as books and articles. You must find at least three resources (either local or regional) in the following categories:
· Healthcare (Week 2)
· Transgender and gender expansive (Week 3)
· Affectional/sexual orientation (Week 4)
· Children and adolescents (Week 5)
· Positive sexuality (Week 6)
· Sexual dysfunction (Week 7)
· Sexual pleasure/lifestyle (Week 8)
· Sexual exploitation (Week 9)
· Abortion (Week 10)
· Infertility (Week 10)
If you are having trouble finding resources, reach out to your Instructor for assistance by Day 3 of the week. Resources may be lacking in some areas. If this is the case, you are welcome to be creative!
In Week 10, you will turn in your final Sexological Resource List with the various resources you have compiled throughout the quarter. Review the template for your final Sexological Resource list in Appendix C. You will turn in the first part of your resource list in Week 6 with the first half of your Sexological Workbook. This way, your Instructor knows you have been working hard each week on building your list.
WEEK 2: Sexual Anatomy and Physiology
|
Reflect on the “Health: Sexual Anatomy and Physiology” section of the Sexological Assessment, specifically the section titled “Sexual Health.” Challenge yourself to answer one or more of the questions from the assessment for your own growth, self-awareness, and edification. Do not submit your answers in the Sexological Assessment. Instead, answer the questions below:
1. Why is it important to gather this information from clients? Justify your reasoning, citing from the Learning Resources. It is important to conduct full assessments on clients, to get a clear and precise understand of what the client is trying to say or to better develop a treatment plan for the client. Often times clients focus on the problem that they are having which is usually masked by something far deeper. Per Beuhler (2016) It is important to get a detail history on your client, because oftentimes there are underlying issues, that has been missed by previous therapist and clients.
Citation(s): Beuhler, S (2016) What every mental health professional needs to know about sex; Springer Publishing Company.
2. Consider two to three sexual anatomical or physiological structures discussed in this week’s Learning Resources. What are some misconceptions clients may have about the role and function of the anatomical structures you selected? The biggest misconception I believe would be where is semen ejaculated from – Often males would think that it comes from their penis, but in all honestly according to Beuhler (2016) the epididymous (a tube behind each testis) and the vans deferens (the duct that carries sperm from testicle to ureathra) it also carries sperm and urine from within the body to exit out the tip of the penis.
(2) The Pelvic Floor muscle is important that nearly not as many women are aware of. The floor muscle is important in holding up all of the internal organs within the abdomen. Muscles within the pelvic floor if too tight is the reasoning behind some painful intercourse, and muscles too lose it is said can prevent climaxing for women, it is often said that this is caused because women muscles are too loose from a significant amount of sex, but According to Beuhler (2016) another reasoning could be that a man is not fully erect. Something important to discuss with clients(s).
Citation(s): Beuhler, S (2016) What every mental health professional needs to know about sex; Springer Publishing Company.
3. Would you feel comfortable answering these questions for yourself in a private, safe counseling session? If a client is hesitant to answer these questions, what can you do you make them feel safer and more comfortable to answer these questions? Because I am not appropriately trained, answering these questions made me feel uncomfortable, and if I am feeling uneasy. I could only imagine how a patient is feeling seeking help. Any type of counseling sessions, it is always important to build a therapeutic alliance with your patient, make them feel safe, and let them know that their information is safe and most importantly let them know that they will not be judged.
Go to Appendix B and provide three specific professional development activities to increase your competency, knowledge, and/or comfortability with sexual anatomy and physiology. If needed, review the criteria for the Professional Development List and Presentation from Week 1 here.
Go to Appendix C and provide at least three resources to which you could refer clients to learn more about their own sexual health functions. This could include medical providers, such as local OBGYNs or urologists. The resources should be as local as possible for clients to access. If needed, there are more detailed instructions in Week 1 here.
|