Counseling: Sexuality

Special issues in counseling, administration and planning, social work or higher education not appropriate to content of existing courses. Courses reflect the social services orientation of the Department of Integrated Professional Studies.

Course has asynchronous online and in-person elements, dates and times TBA. Open to CNSL students and SW; Education & Psych students with instructor permission

Introduction to human sexuality as it pertains to professional counseling and mental health. Crucial facts involved in understanding the culturally relevant and importance of human sexuality on mental health and interpersonal functioning. Content for this course was developed to meet the education requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) core knowledge and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, 2016). Information from this course includes but is not limited to sexuality across the lifespan, socio-cultural factors that influence sexuality, issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, diversity in sexual expression, sexual functioning, and ethical practices.

This course introduces health concepts of human sexuality. In this course, students will: 1. Be comfortable and knowledgeable in discussing sexual matters and functioning; 2. Review sexual anatomy, physiology, and sexual response cycles; 3. Understand the biopsychosocial foundations of human sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity across the lifespan; 4. Identify the impact of Sexually Transmitted Infections; 5. Demonstrate how cultures and values related to sex and sexuality impact their own relationships (including personal relationships and counseling relationships); 6. Appraise how human sexuality impacts functioning and mental health; 7. Compare diversities in sexual expression; 8. Identify the DSM 5 disorders that are related to sexual functioning and sexual behaviors; 9. Identify ways professional counselors can work with clients who present with sex-related concerns; 10. Professional and ethical practices; and, 11. Examine the role of individual, interpersonal, and community levels as they pertain to sexuality

Students will be evaluated on various academic assignments (in-class discussions, paper assignments, presentations) and non-academic dispositional assessments.