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Treating Sexual Issues in Couples Therapy

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026   12:00 PM EST -3:00 PM EST
Dr. Shoshanna Bulow
$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

 

Many couples enter therapy assuming their sexual concerns should be kept out of their couples therapy, and many therapists refer clients to a sex therapist as soon as a sexual issue arises, believing that those concerns fall outside of their purview. Yet it is difficult to imagine a couple facing crises, conflict, anger, hurt, or deep emotional distress without sexual dynamics also being part of the picture. Sometimes sexual issues are the presenting problem, other times they may surface only when the therapist asks about them. When therapists inquire openly about sexuality or about how crises affect a couple’s sexual connection, they signal that sexuality is a normal and essential part of relational life, reducing shame and inviting honest dialogue. This webinar will address six issues that can emerge in couples’ sexual and emotional lives: infidelity, infertility, mismatched desire, serious illness (including cancer), one partner coming out as gay or transgender, and requests to open the relationship. We will explore conceptual frameworks, clinical applications, practical interventions and skills for navigating each scenario. Because sexual topics can evoke strong reactions in therapists, we will also consider the importance of noticing our own biases, assumptions and emotional responses. Developing greater comfort and competence in discussing sexuality strengthens our ability to effectively and sensitively support couples through complicated issues.

 

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

About the Presenter

Shoshana Bulow, PhD is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City. During the course of her career, she has taught and supervised couples, family and sex therapy at the William Alanson White Institute, the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University, the NYU Langone Program in Human Sexuality, the Ackerman Institute for the Family, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and The Family Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. Shoshana currently runs private supervision groups for couples therapists. She has been a certified sex therapist and sex therapy supervisor for almost two decades.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to identify at least three common sexual issues that may surface in couples therapy and explain how these concerns intersect with emotional and relational distress.
  2. Participants will be able to apply at least two clinical frameworks or intervention strategies for working with couples facing challenges such as infidelity, infertility, mismatched desire, serious illness, identity disclosure, or requests to open the relationship.
  3. Participants will be able to demonstrate increased clinical awareness by identifying at least two personal biases or emotional reactions that may arise when discussing sexual topics and describe how these can influence therapeutic engagement.

This workshop offers 3 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.