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Sexuality, Sex Therapy & Somatics: A Facilitated Group Discussion

Wednesday, May 20th, 2026   12:00 PM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Dr. Caleb Jacobson, PsyD, PhD
$24.99

In this provocative and thought-expanding article, sexologist and therapist Cyndi Darnell (2023) examines the curious divide between sex therapy and somatic practice—two fields that share the body as their foundation yet rarely intersect in clinical application. Darnell argues that while somatic therapies have become central to trauma treatment, they have largely excluded erotic pleasure from their frameworks. Likewise, contemporary sex therapy often privileges cognition, function, and talk over embodied experience.

This Facilitated Group Discussion invites participants to explore the potential of integrating somatic principles into sex therapy to restore the centrality of embodiment, pleasure, and the erotic in clinical work. Attendees are encouraged to read the article beforehand and come ready to discuss how somatic approaches can deepen therapeutic engagement and enhance sexual wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to identify at least three historical or theoretical factors that have contributed to the professional divide between sex therapy and somatic therapies and describe how these factors have influenced contemporary clinical approaches.
  2. Participants will be able to describe and differentiate a minimum of three somatic practices relevant to sex therapy (such as breathwork, body mapping, movement-based interventions), including the therapeutic intentions and clinical considerations associated with each practice.
  3. Participants will be able to formulate one example of an integrative clinical strategy that incorporates trauma-informed somatic principles with traditional sex therapy methods to support client embodiment, erotic awareness, and sexual well-being.

Agenda:
00:00–00:05 | Introduction
● Welcome and overview of objectives
● Brief summary of Darnell's (2023) findings.
00:05–00:55 | Facilitated Discussion
● Exploring key findings: benefits and limitations of digital sex therapy
● Ethical, clinical, and practical implications for psychosexual therapists
● Participant reflections: potential applications, challenges, and innovations
● Open exchange: experiences with teletherapy, apps, and digital interventions
00:55–01:00 | Closing Remarks
● Summary of key takeaways

This workshop offers 1 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: introductory
Level of Clinician: beginner
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • The American Psychological Association approves the School of Sex Therapy to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The School of Sex Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
    The School of Sex Therapy is an approved continued education provider for the International Association of Psychosexual Therapists. The School of Sex Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.