Kathryn
Hi, I'm Kathryn! I'm a pleasure enthusiast and change agent for sex and intimacy within healthcare settings. Since starting at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in 2011 and developing the WRNMMC Occupational Therapy Sexuality and Intimacy Clinic, I've dedicated my career to changing the clinical conversations around sex and intimacy and how we address sexuality with clients in healthcare settings. In 2017, I developed the Institute for Sex, Intimacy & Occupational Therapy to fill the gap in sexuality related education and guidance for occupational therapy professionals and interdisciplinary teams. I do this by developing customized workshops for rehab professionals, interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and healthcare advocacy groups that integrate hands-on training sessions, case study reviews, and learning labs. I left Walter Reed to start my private practice, Dr. Kathryn Ellis Sexual Wellness Counseling, in 2020 and have continued to grown the impact of the Institute for Sex, Intimacy and Occupational Therapy through developing a Certification for OT Professionals and conducting multiple interdisciplinary trainings both nationally and internationally.
Some exciting collaborators include lecturing for interdisciplinary Ukrainian rehab teams, co-editing AOTA Press' new sexuality textbook "Sexuality and Intimacy: An Occupational Therapy Perspective," and managing and co-editing The Amputee Coalition and Veterans Health Administration's sexuality workbook "Let's Talk About It: Your sex and intimacy guide."
I'm joined by a team of sexuality experts, fellow sexuality OT professionals, and students who share my passion and contribute through external reviews, scholarly discussion, collaboration, constructive feedback, consultation, and fellow trailblazing!
Interested in customized staff training, curriculum development, mentorship, consulting, or project management? Let's chat! Email me at [email protected].
Kathryn's Books:
Ellis, K., & Ungco, J. C. (Eds.). (2023). Sexuality and intimacy: An Occupational Therapy Approach. AOTA Press.
Ellis, K., & Hoffman, D. (in progress). Let's Talk About It: Your sex and intimacy guide. Amputee Coalition & Veterans Health Administration.
Ellis, K., & Dennison, C. (2014). Sex and Intimacy for Wounded Veterans: A Guide to Embracing Change. Los Angeles, California: The Sager Group.
Invited Presentations:
Ellis, K. (2023). The 101 of Sexual Health Rehabilitation. The National Lympadema Network National Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
Ellis, K. (2023). The Sex You Want: Strategies for Self-Awareness, Communication, and Modifications. Amputee Coalition National Conference. Orlando, FL.
Ellis, K. (2023). Combat Injured Veterans and Sexual Health Rehab. Ukraine. Virtial
Ellis, K. (2021). Being Erotic in an Non-Erotic World Workshop. Yellow Ribbon Foundation. Virtual.
Youtube and Podcast interviews:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNYD-5HbRQp7O4pCsj5qFA/playlists
OT After Dark (2020, January 10). Flirting with the Therapeutic Relationship Episode 17 [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://anchor.fm/ot-after-dark.
OT After Dark (2019, April 7). The Sex and Intimacy OTs walk into a bar... Episode 5 [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://anchor.fm/ot-after-dark.
Jacobs, K. (2019 September 24). Sex and Intimacy in Occupational Therapy with Kathryn Ellis [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from http://lifestylebydesign.libsyn.com/episode-30-sex-and-intimacy-inoccupational-therapy-with-kathryn-ellis.
Barnes, N. & Kersey, J. (2018, October 21). Promoting Participation After Sexual Trauma [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://glasshalffullot.com/podcast/
Kathryn’s Publications:
Ellis, K. M., Nordstrom, M. J., Bach, K. E., Gover-Chamlou, A. N., Messinger, S., Isaacson, B., & Pasquina, P. F. (2021). Sexuality and Intimacy Rehabilitation for the Military Population: Case Series. Sexuality and Disability, 39(2), 231–243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-021-09680-5
Ellis, K. & Sakellariou, D. (2021): "Occupational therapy's engagement with empowering sexuality: Current state and future recommendations." In Editors R. Shuttleworthand L. Mona, Routledge Handbook of Disability and Sexuality. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Ellis, K. (2020): "Sexuality and People with Disabilities. In K. Matuska, .(Ed.5). Ways of living: Intervention Strategies to Enable Participation (5th Ed). Bethesda: AOTA Press.
Ellis, K (2019). "'We're old enough to be your parents!" How to make everyone comfortable talking about sex". OT Practice: 24(7), 28-29.
Tickoo, S., & Ellis, K. (2019). "Indian narrative of sexuality: An occupational therapy perspective". The Occupational Therapy HUB, retrieved from https://www.theothub.com/post/indian-narrative-ofsexuality-an-occupational-therapy-perspective.
Najera, E., Landoll, R., Davenport Pollock, L., Berman, M., Ellis, K., Knies, K., Seidler, D., Bartone, P., & Bowles, S. (2017). Stress and resiliency in married military couples. In S.V. Bowles & P.T. Bartone (Ed.1), Handbook of Military Psychology (pp. 157-175). Springer.
Ellis, K. (2016). A brief overview of the effects of war injuries on sexual health. In C.E. Ritchie (Ed. 1), Intimacy Post Injury: Combat Trauma and Sexual Health (pp. 1-5). Oxford University Press
Ellis, K., & Dennison, C. (2016). Strategies, modifications, and adaptations for intimate relationships and sexual activity. In C.E. Ritchie (Ed. 1), Intimacy Post Injury: Combat Trauma and Sexual Health (pp. 59-85). Oxford University Press
