Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Does Medical School Prepare Doctors To Treat Sexual Health?, Sonjia Kenya, Breanne Young, Fabiola Joseph, Olveen Carrasquillo

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Does Medical School Prepare Doctors to Treat Sexual Health?

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual function is a normative process warranting the equal attention of preventive and treatment services throughout the lifespan. Despite growing recognition of the value of human sexuality in clinical settings, there is no standardized sexual wellness curriculum universally administered in medical schools. Accordingly, many current and future physicians feel underprepared when taking care of patients’ sexual health needs.

Methods: To strengthen sexual health knowledge among medical students in Miami, we conducted a brief workshop in February 2020 and March 2021. The workshop provided an introductory overview of the physiology …

Sexuality, Sex Education, And Intellectual Disability: Guidance For Counselors, Julie C. Hill, Jill M. Meyer, Lindsay E. Stokes, J.C. Ausmus, Brandon Worthey, Jamie Carney

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexual health and sexuality can be an important component of an individual’s identity. Sexual health and sexuality are a vital part of an individual’s quality of life and overall health and well-being. Individuals with intellectual disabilities have been viewed as asexual, lacking sexual interest, or have an inability to engage in sexual activity. These views have led to individuals with intellectual disabilities to be excluded from sexual education programs or lack appropriate knowledge of sexuality, sexual health, and healthy relationships. It is important for parents, medical providers, mental health professionals, and caregivers to have the knowledge needs to have conversations …

We Are Family: Queer And Transgender Family Building, Jennifer M. Gess, Nattalie Wolff-Tseng, Kaitlin J. Phelps, Madison Morley

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

LGBTQ+ people experience resiliency and discrimination when attempting to build families. There are massive systemic barriers and oppressive walls LGBTQ+ people face when forming either a blended family, trying at-home insemination, using assisted reproductive technology, working with a gestational carrier, or attempting to become a foster parent or adopt a child. Queer reproductive justice provides a foundation for counselors to support clients by using affirmative counseling, providing positive mandatory interactions clients are ordered to during family building, and advocating with and on behalf of their LGBTQ+ clients building families.

Can A Course On Sexuality Counseling Increase Empathy When Working With Sex- And Gender-Minoritized Individuals?, Betty Cardona, Robinder P. Bedi

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This study examined whether a sexuality counseling course could increase self-perceived empathy for working with Sex and Gender minoritized (SGM)individuals. Forty-two students enrolled in a sexuality counseling course completed empathy assessments prior to starting the course and after completing it. Statistically significant increases in empathy towards gay/lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals were found (moderate to a large effect sizes). Results indicate that, at least under some circumstances, empathy levels for SGM individuals in counselors-in-training (CITs) could be increased through coursework. Increases in practitioner empathy for SGM individuals can translate into lower uniliteral termination rates and better counseling and psychotherapy outcomes.

Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment: A Systems Approach To Understanding Sexual Issues In Individuals And Couples, Stephanie Buehler

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexuality is a complex construct made up of the influence of systems upon the individual and counterinfluence of the individual upon systems, which can make sexual history taking problematic. The adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s developmental ecological systems model has been employed to create a Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment. The Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment is described as a means of gathering and organizing information about an individual’s sexual development and current sexual expression across five subsystems that range from the microsystem, wherein interactions take place among and between family members and close caregivers, to the chronosystem, which is the effect of time across the …

Special Issue 2022 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

Transgender College Athletes: A Special Commentary, Sonja Lund, Tiffany M. Bordonada

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Recently, multiple bills from various states have attempted to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports. Guided by misinformation, these bills and policies set a dangerous precedent that is overall harmful to the well-being of trans athletes. This article discusses clinical, research, training, and advocacy priorities that should be addressed to protect the rights of trans athletes.

Sex-Positive Clinical Supervision: A Special Commentary, Beda A. Bjorn

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This commentary focuses on clinical competencies, research frameworks, training implications that elevate the meta-competence awareness for the clinical supervisor. There is an identified need to expand sex-positive clinical supervision guidelines. The supervisory setting is created for the safety and personal-professional growth of the supervisee, where it is an opportunity to conceptualize the thematic development of our clinical evolution. In this space, we set a foundation for clinical frameworks to guide the applicability of specific intervention methods and strategies that allow for the critical formulation of a healthy therapeutic outcome. Without established and robust sex-positive frameworks in supervision, the clinical supervisor …

Supporting Mental, Emotional, And Sexual Wellness For Lgbtq+ College Students: A Special Commentary, Devyn Savitsky, Madeleine Stevens, Mahmoud Yacoub

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This brief commentary addresses the importance of campus-wide sexual health initiatives for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual and affectional identities (LGBTQ+) college students. LGBTQ+ college students in the emerging adulthood life stage are particularly susceptible to stigmatized, inequitable physical and mental healthcare, making the need for intentional and affirming support from college counselors, on-campus healthcare providers, and student affairs professionals essential. This article addresses LGBTQ+ friendly communication strategies, specific counseling modalities for work surrounding LGBTQ+ college student sexual health, implications for counselor education and supervision, as well as ongoing research priorities for college counselors. Because sexual health …

Abstinence-Only Sex Education In Public Schools: A Special Commentary, Julianna Williams

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Abstinence Only Until Marriage (AOUM) programs, also known as Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) programs, are non-comprehensive, religion and values-based programs that are still widely used, and supported by government funding, in schools around the United States of America. Content of these programs include messages of misogyny, heteronormativity, and racism, among others. Existing research has indicated that sex education programs lack efficacy in prevention or reduction in teen pregnancy and STI infection. However, little research has investigated the potentially harmful impact of biased messaging to long term sexual and mental health and well-being. In this commentary, I highlight some of the …

Integrating Sexuality Issues In Career Counseling: A Special Commentary, Megan Speciale, Dominique Oster

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The integration of sexual health and wellness competencies within the career counseling specialization is a crucial aspect of providing comprehensive support to clients. This integration holds significance in three key areas: clinical practice, research, and training. In clinical practice, addressing sexual health concerns that may impact career decisions can enhance the comprehensive support provided to clients. In research, exploring the relationship between sexual health and career development and satisfaction is crucial. Furthermore, incorporating sexual health and wellness competencies into training programs for career counselors is necessary to ensure practitioners have the knowledge and skills required to effectively support clients in …

Incorporating Sexual Health Content Into The Rehabilitation Counseling Graduate Program Curriculum: A Special Commentary, Kenneth C. Hergenrather, Nichole Tichy, Maureen Mcguire-Kuletz

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexual health is considered a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being (World Health Organization, 2006). Persons with disabilities are likely to be presumed as sexually inactive, asexual (Rico Alonso et al., 2021; Sant Angelo, 2000), or sexually deviant (Earle, 2001), often leading to their lack of sexual education, an increased risk of sexual exploitation, unwanted pregnancy, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs; Doughty et al., 2017). This commentary addresses three priorities for rehabilitation counseling graduate program curriculum. Clinical priorities should focus on providing persons with disabilities information and education regarding sexual health and wellness. Training priorities should focus on …

Lgbtq+ Substance Use And Sexual Health And Wellbeing: A Special Commentary, Michael P. Chaney, Nicole Urhahn-Schmitt

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Although there has been some increased visibility in professional counseling literature pertaining to LGBTQ+ issues, gaps still exist. One such omission is how LGBTQ+ sexual wellbeing is negatively influenced by substance use. This commentary briefly reviews ways LGBTQ+ sexual wellbeing is negatively impacted by substance use. We provide commentary on how counselors may bolster sexual wellbeing when working with LGBTQ+ substance users and highlight gaps in counseling research. Lastly, recommendations for integrating this content into counselor training are provided.

Counseling Sexology In Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling: A Special Commentary, Judith A. Nelson Ph.D., Lpc

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Healthy couple and family sexuality adds satisfaction and intimacy to the most important human relationships. Systemic work around sexual issues can be complex yet very satisfying. This commentary includes basic information on clinical priorities in working with couples and families including how a counselor’s comfort level might determine outcomes in sexuality counseling. Research and training priorities and their impact are also discussed.

A Path Towards Intersectionality-Informed Counseling Sexology: A Special Commentary, Bianca R. Augustine

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

It is the goal of professionals within the field of counseling sexology and sexual wellness to provide clients with clinical mental health counseling through a sex-positive and affirming framework. To do so, clinicians must pay special attention to best practices in the field, especially as it relates to historically oppressed and minoritized clients. To do so, appropriate training is required to inform care. Furthermore, clinical practice is also informed by research, making it imperative that research is conducted related to various aspects of sexual wellness and treatment. This commentary will identify and discuss sexual health and wellness priorities within the …

Human Sexuality Education For Counseling Students, An Ethical Imperative: A Special Commentary, Meagan S. Mcbride

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Human sexuality is a profound and multifaceted component of the human condition that is universally experienced. As such, it is an inevitability that issues related to human sexuality will come up in counseling settings; however, there is a lack of medically accurate sex education in K-12 schools. Additionally, there is no requirement, except for in three states, for students in mental health counseling programs to complete a course on human sexuality. While human sexuality is not a specific competency outlined by CACREP or ACA, it is universally experienced by all clients and counselors. This special commentary highlights the ethical need …

Letter From The Special Issue Editor, Megan Speciale

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

In the midst of the final drafting of the 2024 CACREP standards, this special issue is designed to call attention to the important role of sexuality across the CACREP specialty areas. Voices from across the counseling community have come together to create this special issue. Their contributions and perspective are shared here.

Special Issue 2022 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

Counselor Self-Reported Competence For Working With Kink Clients: Clinical Experience Matters, Emily Y. Meyer Stewart, James M. Hepburn

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The experience of counselor stereotyping, bias, and misunderstanding is often very real for those who participate in adult, consensual, non-diagnosable paraphilic sexuality, commonly referred to as kink. A created Counselor Self-Reported Competency Scale, drawn from American Counseling Association competencies, and the Attitudes about Sadomasochism Scale were used to assess counselor knowledge and attitude for working with kink clients. This research suggests competence with kink clients increases as clinical experience working with kink clients increases. The ability to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude and open therapeutic environment seems linked to increased clinical experience with this sexual subculture.

Spring/Summer 2022 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

Disordered Eating And Risky Sexual Behaviors In College Women, Kassie R. Terrell, Bridget R. Stanton, Hanadi Y. Hamadi

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Disordered eating (DE) can negatively impact college students’ psychological and physical health; it is crucial to understand DE and its connection to other disruptive and co-occurring disorders. This study investigated if DE behaviors increase the probability of one such issue, risky sexual behaviors (RSB). Participants included 240 single female college students. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between DE and RSB, wherein 44.65% engaged in both DE and RSB (p≤0.001). Compared to students who did not engage in DE, those who did had 3.42 times higher odds of engaging in RSB. Implications are provided for college campuses.

Sexual Violence Survivors In The Indian Diaspora: The Impact Of Acculturation On Support-Seeking Behavior, Bagmi Das

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Survivors of sexual violence in the United States are provided many more resources than those in Asia. For survivors in the Indian diaspora, this provides a unique perspective when understanding their experience and seeking support. This mixed methods study was an effort to understand the relationship between acculturation and support seeking for these survivors, both from informal and formal supports. This survey research recruited 77 survivors of sexual violence who self-identified as women and within the Indian diaspora in the United States. The participants ranged from 18 to 43 years in age. The Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, support seeking checklist, …

Practicalities And Possibilities: Par Research In Counseling With Sex Workers, Theodore R. Burnes

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Scholars have increasingly documented that a participatory action research (PAR) paradigm can strengthen learning about sex workers’ experiences. Many counseling researchers, however, may not be prepared for various contextual factors and experiences that can occur when doing PAR with sex workers. In addition, sex workers’ experiences of oppression and marginalization necessitate that counselors adapt their research methods to engage with this community. The author of this article discusses important process elements of PAR research with sex workers to identify methodological practices for counseling researchers engaging in PAR with sex workers. Implications for training with counseling researchers across the professional lifespan …

Spring/Summer 2022 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

“When A Tornado Hits Your Life:” Exploring Cyber Sexual Abuse Survivors’ Perspectives On Recovery, Rachel A. Adler, Spring Chenoa Cooper

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Introduction: Forty-eight US states and 11 countries have enacted legislation criminalizing
the act of revenge porn, or cyber sexual abuse. This represents a shift in recognition of
the effects of cyber sexual abuse, as survivors continue to face societal norms of victim-
blaming. By capturing stories of individuals who consider having overcome their experience
of cyber sexual abuse, we aim to understand the process of recovery. Methods: We conducted
qualitative interviews with 15 adults who indicated, through a digital eligibility form, that they
had “overcome” their incident of cyber sexual abuse. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, the
authors …

Fall 2021 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

The Gender Freedom Model: A Framework For Helping Transgender, Non-Binary, And Gender Questioning Clients Transition With More Ease, Rae Mcdaniel, Laurel Meng

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Transgender/non-binary experiences and identities are often represented in academic literature through narratives of distress and are often pathologized through a medical lens. This holds implications for the field of psychotherapy, as interventions aimed to support transgender/nonbinary individuals often focus solely on risk mitigation. This article presents a therapeutic framework that rests on three pillars—Play, Pleasure, and Possibility—as the focal points for reimagining work with transgender/non-binary clients. This model aims to help this population explore gender transition with more ease through building practical skills, cultivating personal and collective pride, and centering pleasure equity.

Understanding Education In Sexuality Counseling From The Lens Of Trainees: A Critical Examination And Call For Increased Attention And Training, Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Adriana C. Labarta, Taylor Irvine

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Although sexuality counseling is an essential component in counselor education training, research demonstrates that counselors lack competence and willingness to explore sexuality issues with clients. Counselors must be ready to address sexuality issues to provide comprehensive and culturally competent care. Sexuality counseling education needs further exploration to inform future training and educational standards. This qualitative study uses thematic analysis to examine 524 reflective journals of counselors-in-training (CIT) engaged in a sexuality counseling course to inform future education, training, and clinical practice standards in this area. This study revealed themes reflecting common ways CIT matured personally and professionally through sexuality counseling …

Motivations, Expectations, Ideal Outcomes, And Satisfaction In Friends With Benefits Relationships Among Rural Youth, Amber Letcher, Jasmin Carmona, Kristine Ramsay-Seaner, Meagan Scott Hoffman

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Characterized by repeated sexual contact with a known partner without the expectation of commitment, friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) are increasing among youth. Yet, less is known about the motivations for, or satisfaction in, FWBRs especially among youth from rural areas. Youth from rural communities reported on their experiences in FWBRs. Findings indicated that youths’ major motivation for FWBRs was sexual satisfaction, although gender differences emerged. Sexual motivation was associated with relationship satisfaction. The majority of youth wanted to maintain their friendship following the FWBR, and most described the experience as satisfying. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Sexuality And Disability In Rehabilitation Counseling Curricula: Rehabilitation Counselor Educators’ Attitudes, Comfort, And Knowledge, Sharesa H. Mccray, Tyra T. Whittaker, Jeff Wolfgang, Tammy Webb, Glacia Ethridge

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Purpose: To examine the attitudes, knowledge, and comfort levels of rehabilitation counselor educators towards sexuality and disability, and to determine if significant differences exist within variables.

Method: Data was collected from a sample of rehabilitation counselor educators (N=27) via an internet-based survey. The Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) and demographic questionnaire was disseminated to collect data. A MANOVA was conducted to examine if there was a relationship among the variables of attitudes, knowledge, comfort, age, gender, and ethnicity.

Results: Results indicates educators having high comfort levels and positive attitudes towards sexuality and disability. The mean for …