• Asynchronous / Homestudy •
For the homestudy version of this course you will have to pass a post-test with a 75% passing score in order to obtain your CE certificate.
This Advanced-Level course is designed to better equip practitioners in assessing and treating a frequent presenting problem in therapy offices: female sexual issues and couple dynamics in committed relationships.
Course Description
Writers and researchers have always been intrigued by the topic of enduring passion. Desire to keep intimacy alive and pleasurable is often a prime focal point of relationship therapy, too.
Such ambitions often get disrupted by unwelcome intruders such as pain, low sexual desire and other stressors. As a clinician, you likely have sat with couples suffering the relational consequences of sexual problems. Interestingly, when a woman feels closer to her partner, she experiences less sexual distress about her impaired sexual functioning, which is an indirect protective outcome of marital intimacy.
We will explore theoretical models of sexual intimacy within long-term relationships and the somewhat divergent predictions they make.
We will posit these models against current research in the field of sexual psychology and marital therapy, e.g. social exchange theory, relationship permanence, medical approaches, attachment theory and behavioral approaches.
Interventions to facilitate the creation of favorable relationship climate for increased sexual function will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
Why Did We Create This Course?
Approvals
This homestudy (recorded version) is approved to provide 4 CE home-study (asynchronous) credits by APA, AASECT, GA MFT, Florida Board of Psychology and Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling to provide 4 asynchronous CE credits. GA MFT approval is for “core hours”.
FL LCSW and GA MFT approvals should cover MFT and LCSW boards in most other states, including Pennsylvania.
FL MFT approval qualifies as core content for GA according to GA Rule 135-9-.01.5.c.
Bookshelf to Couch, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Bookshelf to Couch, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Important: Following the purchase of this course you must register for the session using the GoToWebinar link emailed to the email address you had provided when you set up your Bookshelf to Couch account. Please check all of your email folders in case you are unable to locate this email in your inbox.
Programming Levels
Advanced level programs build upon established knowledge and clinical skills in the content area. This may include novel applications and/ or clinical applications to diverse populations.
Advanced programming tends to be more specialized in nature with opportunities to interact with seasoned practitioners. It allows participants to enhance and deepen their knowledge in the subject area. Advanced courses are also recommended for participants desiring to integrate their knowledge into other professional domains. Note: Anyone is welcome to enroll in any of our courses regardless of the level of programming of the course.
To learn more about how Course Programming levels are determined, visit our FAQ page.
Your Instructors
Marti Witherow, LPC, LMFT, CST
Marti Witherow, LPC, LMFT, CST, is a researcher and private practice clinician with over 25,000 hours of clinical experience treating individuals and couples with intimacy issues. Her research has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy and the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Her passion is to connect up-to-date research with empirically validated clinical practice, which she considers vital for best treatment outcomes. Standing on the foundations of her integrative family therapy roots, she is also trained in Sex Therapy and Internal Family Systems Theory.
Women’s sexual health is especially close to her heart and she is an experienced presenter and lecturer on this subject. She is a co-owner of Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, MS and a supervisor for ABCST.
Michael Sytsma, PhD, LPC, CST, CSAS, CPCS
Dr. Michael Sytsma loves to teach. He is a frequent presenter at professional conferences, couples retreats and workshops, and serves as professor in several graduate schools across the U.S.
He holds a PhD from the University of Georgia where his main focus was marital sexuality. In his private practice he has worked almost exclusively with couples. As such, he has worked with thousands of couples treating sexual issues and infidelity.
AASECT Core Knowledge Areas:
Area C: Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
Area E: Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.
Area H: Health and Medical Factors that may influence sexuality
Area I: Range of sexual functioning and behavior, from optimal to problematic including, but not limited to, common issues such as: desire discrepancy, lack of desire, difficulty achieving or maintaining arousal, sexual pain, penetration problems and difficulty with orgasm.
Next Steps:
Course Information:
Register for the GoToWebinar recording using the link you had received via email when you purchased this course.
After viewing the full recording, you need to pass the post-test with a 75% passing grade in order to receive your CE certificate. You will be prompted to print your certificate after you had passed the post-test.
