Vigorito Counseling and Consulting Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Session Description: Diagnosing problematic sexual behaviors as an addiction or compulsion remains controversial despite decades of research and clinical practice. Pathology-based models (e.g., sex addiction, compulsive sexual behavior disorder, or hypersexual disorder) are criticized for stigmatizing non-normative sexual behaviors and the insufficient scientific evidence to establish a new psychosexual or addictive disorder (Grubbs et al, 2020; Garcia et al, 2016; Ley, 2020). Rather than a clinical disorder with a unitary construct, the presenter frames out of control sexual behavior (OCSB) as a sexual health problem in which an individual’s consensual sexual urges, thoughts and behaviors feel out of control (Braun-Harvey & Vigorito, 2016). Freed from a disease-based narrative, participants can stay curious about the factors that contribute to OCSB and empower their clients to discover new solutions to their sexual health problems. Participants will learn elements of OCSB assessment and treatment including: 1. The six principles of sexual health - an ethical framework sexual health conversations and interventions; 2. A non-pathological conceptualization for OCSB (based on concepts of cognitive dissonance and competing motivations); and 3. Components of a comprehensive clinical assessment.
Learning Objectives:
After this activity participants should be able to
Describe four contemporary conceptualizations of problematic or out of control sexual behaviors.
Apply a non-pathological conceptualization during out of control sexual behavior assessment and treatment
List and apply the six principles of sexual health - an ethical framework for out of control sexual behavior assessment and treatment.