Sensate Focus Touching is a highly useful adjunct to sex therapy for both mental health and allied health professionals to address sexual desire as well as a spate of sexual distresses and dysfunctions. Sensate Focus touching was developed by Masters & Johnson on the basis of their research and experience. It serves to foster a mindful connection to self and partner as well as diminish anxiety through repeated touching experiences. In a structured hierarchy of touching experiences, clients learn to turn off their internal chatter and tune into their body, managing their mind’s negative messages, building comfort and accumulating sexual tension. This is Sensate Focus, a simple but elegant and effective strategy. It is helpful for identifying and managing blocks to sexual feeling and expression, and for promoting healthy adaptions to the biopsychosocial challenges following cancer and other illness. Too often these challenges lead to sexual alienation, and to ongoing but unnecessary sexual dysfunctions. In this highly practical workshop participants will learn updates regarding best practices, be introduced to the underpinnings of Sensate Focus in Somatic Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Practice. They will be offered the opportunity to learn to apply Sensate Focus suggestions to diverse populations. This includes people with varied sexual concerns, those who have experienced sexual trauma, and those affected by chronic illness and disability. The program includes case consultation as well as video demonstrations of Sensate Focus positions and instructions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, Participants will be able to:
- Describe Sensate Focus and it’s relationship to the practices of mindfulness and somatic touch
- Analyze when and how to use Sensate Focus touching suggestions
- Identify how to integrate Sensate Focus into relationship counseling/therapy and sexual medicine
- Apply Sensate Focus suggestions to various populations and sexual concerns
- Explain commonly encountered problems in assigning and processing Sensate Focus
- List interventions useful in addressing commonly encountered problems
Earn 6 AASECT CE’s and credit toward the 30 hours of relationship/couple therapy required for certification as a CST as well as credit toward AASECT recertification.
*** 6.0 AMA Category I CME credits are pending for this event***
*** Proof of full-time student status must be submitted for student registration fee ***
$199 Professional Registration
$149 Student/Retiree Registration
Proof of full-time student status must be submitted
