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Clients frequently bring a variety of sexual issues to therapy including: gender identity, sexual orientation, desire discrepancies, trauma, performance anxiety, erectile or orgasm difficulties, painful penetration, fear of intimacy, compulsive porn use or relationship conflict. These can all be influenced by biological, psychological or social issues as well as past and present sexual experiences.
Many therapists do not have specific training in human sexual function so frequently feel that it is not in their scope of practice to unpack these issues with the client, or they may feel uncomfortable with the sexual content brought into therapy and have their own Parts activated. Discover how to embrace IFS therapy as an extremely helpful therapeutic modality for addressing a wide range of sexual issues which can present in the first instance as feelings of shame, pain, humiliation, disgust, fear or negative body image.
As an evidence-based, non-pathologizing model of psychotherapy, IFS therapy is particularly helpful to integrate into Psychosexual Therapy for the management of a wide range of sexual difficulties as well as in the clinical management of complex sexual dysfunctions. In clients who present with sexual issues, it is common to see internal exiling, blaming and shaming of Parts who carry burdens originating from the client’s society, family of origin, culture, religion or even their sexuality education. This approach provides a lens through which we can help clients normalise many common protector fears, work effectively with Polarisations and support people when their protector Parts are locked in the tight dance of conflict around sex. It can be a particularly helpful for processing sexual trauma because it is client-centred, progresses at a speed that suits the client and fosters deep access to Self energy for inner healing. This allows for alleviation of the internal distress for the client, sustainable long-term behaviour change and more empowering, pleasurable sexual experiences.
This product is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the IFS Institute and does not qualify for IFS Institute credits or certification.
PESI Australia, in collaboration with PESI in the USA, offers quality online continuing professional development events from the leaders in the field at a standard recognized by professional associations including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, alcohol and drug professionals, counselling and psychotherapy. On completion of the training, a Professional Development Certificate is issued after the individual has answered and submitted a quiz and course evaluation. This program is worth 1.25 hours CPD for points calculation by your association.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Integrating IFS Therapy Perspectives and Psychosexual Therapy for the Management of Sexual Function and Dysfunction (5.96 MB) | 25 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Kate Dempsey is a sexologist and relationship counsellor in private practice, Townsville. She is a trauma-informed sex therapist who works with adult individuals, couples and other relationship styles. She holds a Master of Science in medicine (HIV, STIs and sexual health) counselling from the University of Sydney and her professional registrations include: Queensland College of Teachers, Australian Counselling Association and Society of Australian Sexologists. She is also a member of the European Society of Sexual Medicine and the International Society of Sexual Medicine. Kate is a Certified Internal Family Systems therapist having completed Level 1 in 2018, Level 2 IFIO in 2021 and is on staff as a Level 2 IFIO Program Assistant. She is an academic at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health within the postgraduate psychosexual therapy pathway. In addition to seeing private clients, Kate is an embedded contractor at one of Phoenix Australia’s accredited trauma recovery programs as a program facilitator for veterans and first responders who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The module “Sexual Function and PTSD” was designed and written by Kate in 2019 and is a valued and ongoing component of the program. Kate’s background is in teaching where she taught for over a decade in Australia and England in the areas of Biology, Chemistry and Science. During her educational career, Kate recognised that sexuality education was not meeting the needs of our young people, and this led her into retraining as a Sexologist where she provides sexuality education in a variety of settings as well as psychosexual therapy in her private practice. Kate is the current secretary for the Queensland branch of the Society of Australian Sexologists.
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