< Back to workshops

Sexual & Gender Diversity in Sex Therapy

Previously Recorded
Tonya L O'Neal
$59.99

This class provides IAPST credits which are eligible for credits toward Certification as a Sex Therapist.  See iapst.org/certification

See complete list of certificates available in the Accreditation tab

Sexual and Gender Diversity Training for Sex Therapy is a three-hour professional learning experience designed for clinicians, counselors, and educators seeking to strengthen their competence and confidence in working with clients who are sexually and gender diverse. This course explores the intersections of identity, sexuality, culture, and spirituality within clinical and educational settings, emphasizing the ethical and therapeutic importance of understanding your clients needs, wants and values. Participants will engage in interactive discussions, case applications, and guided reflections to deepen their understanding of gender identity, sexual orientation, and the systemic factors that shape clients' lived experiences.

Grounded in principles of cultural humility, intersectionality, and trauma-informed care, this training empowers sex therapy professionals to recognize and challenge bias, and create safe environments. By the end of the course, participants will gain actionable strategies to integrate affirming frameworks into assessment, treatment planning, and clinical dialogue, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and holistic client well-being.

 

To register or access the part 2 asynchronous/self study click -> HERE <-

About the Presenter

Tonya L. O’Neal, M.Ed., M.A., is a doctoral candidate in Human Sexuality at Widener University and a licensed minister. A U.S. Army veteran and experienced educator, her scholarship centers on Black women’s and LGBTQ experiences in faith contexts. Her research explores the intersections of theology, sexuality, and social justice to promote inclusive, affirming communities. Through her work, she seeks to bridge faith and sexuality, fostering healing, empowerment, and embodied liberation.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and distinguish sex, gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression
  2. Identify and challenge myths and misconceptions surrounding sexual and gender diversity.
  3. Describe how cultural, legal, and psychosocial systems shape understandings of gender and sexuality.
  4. Apply principles of cultural humility, reflexivity, and inclusive practice when engaging with diverse populations.
  5. Reflect on personal and institutional power, privilege, and bias in relation to sexual and gender diversity

Agenda:

Sexual and Gender Diversity Training for Sex Therapy

Facilitator: Tonya L. O’Neal, M.Ed.
Total Duration: 3 Hours (180 Minutes)
Format: Online / Virtual Interactive Training
Delivery: Lecture, Guided Discussion, Breakout Activities, Reflection

0:00 – 0:10 | Welcome & Orientation (Slides 1–2)

Focus: Establish psychological safety and course agreements.
Activities: Quick introductions (name, pronouns, inclusion word).
Review agreements: Confidentiality, Compassion, Collective Care.
Learning Objective: Build trust and a respectful foundation.

0:10 – 0:15 | Course Overview (Slide 3)

Focus: Introduce course structure and learning outcomes.
Talking Points:

  • Flow of the session

  • Three core themes: Awareness, Humility, Integration
    Learning Objective: Orient participants to course objectives.

0:15 – 0:25 | Icebreaker: Messages We’ve Received (Slide 4)

Focus: Self-reflect on early beliefs about sexuality and gender.
Activity: Quick breakout (2–3 mins) → whole-group share-out.
Learning Objective: Identify implicit messages and internalized bias.

0:25 – 0:40 | Myths & Misconceptions (Slides 5–8)

Focus: Challenge common myths about sexuality and gender (Meyer, 2010).
Activity: Guided myth-busting + brief journaling reflection.
Learning Objective: Recognize how misinformation perpetuates stigma.

0:40 – 0:50 | Defining Sexual & Gender Diversity (Slides 9–10)

Focus: Clarify the spectrum of sex, gender, and sexuality.
Discussion: Introduce diversity as natural variation (Hammack & Manago, 2025).
Learning Objective: Apply inclusive language and conceptual clarity.

0:50 – 1:00 | Break #1 (Slide 11)

Focus: 10-minute rest and reflection break.

1:00 – 1:20 | Cultural Humility in Practice (Slides 12–13)

Focus: Introduce humility as ethical framework for therapy (Fischer et al., 2025).
Activity: Discussion + brief reflection: “What does humility look like in my work?”
Learning Objective: Integrate self-reflection and accountability into practice.

1:20 – 1:35 | Faith, Bias & Intergroup Relations (Slides 14–15)

Focus: Explore empathy and moral reframing (McDermott & White, 2025).
Activity: Pair discussion: “How do I hold faith and identity together?”
Learning Objective: Apply empathy and moral reframing to faith-based contexts.

1:35 – 1:40 | Break #2 (Slide 16)

Focus: 5-minute mental rest and reset.

1:40 – 2:00 | Integrating Awareness into Practice (Slide 17)

Focus: Bridge reflection into actionable inclusion.
Discussion: “What does daily inclusion look like for you?”
Learning Objective: Transform awareness into consistent, affirming behavior.

2:00 – 2:20 | Case Application 1: Jordan (Slide 18)

Focus: Explore faith, identity, and resilience in practice.
Activity: Small breakout groups analyze Jordan’s case → short debrief.
Learning Objective: Apply intersectional, affirming approaches to client care.

2:20 – 2:30 | Reflection Pause (Slide 19)

Focus: Quiet journaling and integration.
Prompt: “What did Jordan’s story teach you about presence and compassion?”

2:30 – 2:45 | Integrating Practice & Commitment (Slides 21–23)

Focus: Move from reflection to professional accountability.
Discussion: Inclusion as transformation, not checklist (Staley & Leonardi, 2019).
Activity: Journal: “What inclusive commitment am I ready to make?”
Learning Objective: Identify professional commitments to embody inclusion.

2:45 – 2:55 | Breakout Session: Commitment in Action (Slide 22)

Focus: Group accountability and shared reflection.
Activity: Breakout to create one SMART inclusive commitment.
Learning Objective: Develop collaborative accountability plans.

2:55 – 3:00 | Closing Reflection & Acknowledgment (Slides 32–34)

Focus: End with gratitude and affirmation.
Quote: “Integration is not perfection—it’s presence.”
Learning Objective: Commit to embodied, values-based inclusion.

This workshop offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live 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: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • 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.