When I first started addressing sexuality with my clients, I didn’t really know where to begin. I felt like I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. And I was starting to feel guilty that I wasn’t fully addressing the needs of the people who had entrusted me with their care. I was frustrated because I feel like this topic was barely touched when I was in OT school - and the online resources for OTs at the time weren’t much better. Maybe you’ve felt the same frustration.  I spent a ton of time diving into what research I could find and found that most of it was from outside our profession and not necessarily the most relevant to my practice. Have you had the same experience? 

Instead, what if there was a way to become more confident and knowledgeable about sexuality + intimacy that was simple? Something curated and OT-specific, that didn’t require a ton of legwork from an already frazzled therapist.

That’s what I’ve created for you with the Breast Cancer and Sexuality Trainings. When you join us, you’ll build your sex and intimacy skills from the ground up - no need for prior knowledge. You’ll receive an introduction to sexuality and what this activity looks like in the context of occupational therapy and working with clients with breast cancer. In addition, you'll have access to tools, frameworks, and professional guidance from specialized OTs who have been where you are right now.

Breast Cancer & Sexuality for Women and Individuals Assigned Female at Birth

After taking this course you will learn

• How to change your practice to confidently address sexuality with clients who experience/d breast cancer. 

• Strategies for intervention related to sexuality and intimacy specifically within the context of breast cancer. 

• Strategies for interventions to promote affirming care for often minoritized individuals & those impacted by health disparities*.

• Strategies to navigate your own discomfort discussing sex with clients.

This course is a recorded lecture, which you can take at your own pace!  

*Dr. Duran and I acknowledge in the beginning, our personal identities and experiences limit our ability to fully understand the perspectives of people who identity in ways that differ from ourselves, simply because we do not share those lived experiences.  As part of the process to ensure our content is as representative as possible, we include external reviewers and content contributors who have identities that differ from our own and can better provide details and considerations.  We specifically used this for the development of the case studies.  2 of our case studies which center on LGBTQIA+ clients were developed by contributors who had either lived or witnessed the experiences illustrated in the case studies. 

Sexuality and Intimacy throughout Lifespan

After taking this course you will

• Increase your comfort addressing sexuality with clients
• Understand physical, cognitive, and emotional factors of engaging in sexuality and effective intervention strategies for each
• Feel prepared to make a change in your clinical practice and know where to start

This course is a recorded lecture, which you can take at your own pace!

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Hi, I’m Kathryn.

I began addressing sexuality and intimacy with my client basically day 1… and it was terrifying! While I had no special training, as OT school certainly did not prepare me for this, and I truly felt like I was winging it, I saw that this mattered to my clients and they benefited from a space to discuss their sexuality and intimacy questions and concerns. Do you ever feel this way? Like you know sexuality is extremely meaningful to clients, but feel totally unequipped to even bring up the topic, or anxious about not being able to address their concerns once they get to talking?

If you're here, you've probably specialized in breast cancer rehabilitation and/or treatments for lymphedema.  You're specialized and yet might still not know how to address this one particular area of occupation.  

I’ve been there.

 I was there in the beginning as a new grad and even now, as a seasoned (spicy- extra hot) OT, I am still learning.

As a clinical OT for a major military medical hospital, I had the opportunity to develop a sexuality and intimacy program for a wide range of clients with diverse needs related to sexuality and intimacy. I was trained as an AASECT certified Sexuality Counselor by some of the best sexuality therapists in the world, yet the whole time I was thinking, “THIS IS SO OT!” The holistic aspect of sexuality which influences and depends on environment, context, client factors, activity demands, and performance skills makes OTs perfectly situated to address sexuality and intimacy.

At the Institute for Sex, Intimacy & Occupational Therapy, I develop and curate professional development training to help therapists learn and hone their skills addressing sexuality and intimacy with their clients.

For this training, I paired up with Dr. Reba Duran!

Dr. Duran is a recent graduate who did a level 2 fieldwork specializing in breast cancer rehabilitation.  Dr. Duran wanted to combine her fresh out of OT School extra sharp research skills with her passion for addressing these often ignored occupations. 

We want to show you a blueprint so you can feel confident, competent, ready, and excited to address sexuality and intimacy in OT practice to help your clients THRIVE!

I remember working in a specialized area of occupational therapy (combat-related polytrauma) when I first started my career as an OT and being so frustrated at the lack of resources on this topic. And while I eventually found my way and branched out, I never want another OT to waste time and energy feeling unequipped to address this ADL with their clients. 

Working on sexuality with individuals with cancer always feels really high stakes and but my client are always appreciative I open the door for them to talk about sex and together we can get some great client outcomes. I truly believe in what I’m offering in this package, and I can’t wait to help you become a more confident sex + intimacy practitioner in a fraction of the time it took me so your clients can thrive!