Common Sexual Problems: Lessons from Couple Therapy

Sexual problems are extremely common in marriage and as topics in couple therapy. Most couples seeking therapy have diminished or stopped their sexual intimacy. While some identify sexual problems as chief complaints, in most cases sexual concerns emerge in therapy, embedded in other issues. While some sexual problems resolve with overall relationship improvement, others require focused attention. Most clients have trouble talking about their sexual lives, and many therapists are anxious about how to engage such topics.

In this 2-hour continuing education webinar for mental health professionals, Dr. Arthur Nielsen will address these issues together with the following topics:

• The importance of sex and the challenges of talking about it
• Useful questions for obtaining a sexual history
• Diminished or discrepant sexual desire: the most common couple problems
• Sexual script incompatibilities and paraphilias
• Porn and compulsive sexual behavior
• How to reestablish satisfying sex once other relationship problems have improved

The webinar is grounded in Dr. Nielsen’s approach to couple therapy which emphasizes interpersonal process and integrating systemic, psychodynamic, and behavioral/educational principles. To bring the subject matter to life, Dr. Nielsen will present case examples from his extensive practice experience.

This continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. Describe why sexual problems are especially important in committed relationships.
2. Explain why couples and therapists, alike, find it challenging to talk about sex.
3. List optimal questions to obtain a sexual history from couples.
4. Describe strategies for working with the most common couple complaints: flagging desire and desire discrepancies.
5. Describe strategies for working with sexual script incompatibilities, porn, and compulsive sexual behavior.
6. Describe strategies to reestablish satisfying sex once other relationship problems have improved.

Statement of program material’s accuracy, utility, and risks: This program presents clinical and scientific information about the most common sexual problems seen by couple therapists. This webinar is intended for mental health professionals interested in helping clients with these problems. The program discusses strategies for applying the concepts taught in a clinically responsible manner, although the presenter may not know how to apply all principles discussed to every situation or person. A body of research surveyed in the program suggests that the methods are effective and safe for diverse populations. As always, however, misapplication of the concepts with various populations could lead to unintended outcomes.

Declaration of conflicts of interest and commercial support: The presenter has no conflicts of interest relevant to this webinar.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC 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-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC 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-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

• Register NowPlease Login to Member's Area
• Not a Member?Click here for information on membership